April 20< 1898.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



8^8 



Sweepstake, 10 targets: Fonda 10, Daniels 5, E. W. Tate S, Justice 8, 

 MitcheU 10, C. W". Tate 9, Gilmer 8, Anthony 7, Wagfler 7, .Tordan 7. 



Appreciation from Greensboro. 



Greensboro. N. C, April 13.— To the Manufacturers^ Train-Shooting 

 Association: The members of the Greensboro Gun Club desire to 

 express to you our appreciation of your kinduess.in having favored 

 us with one of your shoots. The prograrume was pleasing to all par- 

 ticipants, being a decided improvement over the usual programmes tn 

 which many shooters have iMst interest. We also desire to congratu- 

 late you upon having such a com]iet(iijC and popular representative 

 as B&\ John Parker to manage your shoots, his management being 

 perfect. We feel confident yohi- programmes will become very popu- 

 lar. (Signed) J.D.Glenn, President; E. L. Gihner, Sec'y-Treas.; .T. 

 F. Jordan, Captain ; H. L. Lee, (>. Daniels, C. F. Joyce, George Fitz- 

 simons, C. W. Tate, E. W. Tate, R. E. Causey, J. L. Fonda. 



Greensboro, N. C April 12— Manufacturers' Trajry-Shooting Asso- 

 ciation: As a member of the Greensboro Giui Club and as a citizen 

 of this city, I wish to return thanks to your association for the very 

 pleasant and successful shoot which has just closed here. To your 

 worthy representative Mr. Parker is due the credit of conducting the 

 shoot in such a manner as to give universal satisfaction. He merited 

 and received praises from those who attended as weU as those who 

 took part in tbe shoot. As the winner of the beautiful trophy which 

 you offered for the best shot in Korth Oarohna, I wish to acknow- 

 ledge my personal gratitude. 1 shall treasure it among mementoes 

 which are tahsinamc of seasons of sport and pleasiu-e. With best 

 wishes to your association. 1 remain, very respectfully, 



Garland Danikls. 



THE WORLD'S FAIR SHOOT. 



There Will Be One— Definite Plan Arranged— 

 Cause of the Delay— Proposed Association 

 Abandoned— Trap-Shooting Injured in the 

 Meanwhile— Biting Comment from the West. 



Chicago, IU., April 15. — ^Worn out and digusted by the delay in 

 organization and action of the World's Fair Trap Shooters' Associa- 

 tion, and by the lukewarmness of those who should bave been the 

 friends of a movement whose only animus was a friendship for the 

 trap-shooters and the sport of shooting at the trap, the members of 

 the executive committee of the Ilhnois State Sportsmen's Association, 

 at a meeting held Wednesday evening, took the matter into their own 

 hands, appropriated the title of "World's Pair Shoot'" for their own 

 open tournament in June, ordered the title to be published in their 

 programme for .June, resolved to help this open tournament to the 

 extent of their ability, left the proposed association without a title 

 and without its main reason for existence, and delegated to it the 

 option of completing its organization or not, as it may later see fit. 

 That any further action will be taken by the members concerned in 

 the proposed association is higlily improbable. That Chicago will in 

 ' some small degree maintain her honor and offer the trap-shooters of 

 the country a shoot of unusual size and of unusual financial attrac" 

 tions is upon the other hand now a practically assured fact. 



In the meantinie, the delay, the discussions, the backbiting, the httle 

 jealousies, the paltry bitteimesses which have come up in connection 

 with the attempt to hold a big and harmonious shoot have unquestion- 

 ably hurt the sport of trap-shooting and broken the integrity of the 

 trap-shooting body alike in Chicago and in the country at large. Tbat 

 this should be the result of an effort absolutely unselfish and disinter- 

 ested is deplorable in one sense, but in another highly fortunate. It 

 shows the shooters the uselessness of a friendship which is false, the 

 puei'ility of an effort which is lukewarm, the babyishness of a spirit 

 which waits for an easy reward dependent upon other men's work. 

 This lesson is a good and useful one. Meanwhile the trap-shooters at 

 the World's Fair shoot wUl not shoot for $-30,000 added money, nor for 

 $3,000. They will shoot in sweeps the value of which will depend upon 

 the attendance. This attendance will be invited in a practical way 

 later to be announced in the Illinois State programme. 



There is no reason in the world for supposing that the World's Fair 

 shoot as now determined upon will not be a gi eat and successful tour- 

 nament. The hour and the place establish that. Therefore, let aU 

 shooters, in and out of Chicago, forget their differences and unite in 

 good manly fashion, witiiout jealousy, without envy, without unpleas- 

 ant memories, to hold a little carnival of sport whose first quahty 

 shall be that of harmony and good fellowship. They can afford thit, 

 once in 400 years. If they do not have so much money to shoot for, 

 tiey will know where to put the blame; but regret at this should be 

 buried in the ijleasure of a meeting which, it is to be hoped even now, 

 .will be one typicaUy representative of a large branch of the sports- 

 manship of America. 



THE LAST ASSOOLATION MEBTINO. 



It will be borne m mind that only about $1,900 of the stock of the 

 proposed World's Fan- Association was pledged. The laws of Illinois 

 require aU the stock to be subscribed before the organization of a 

 stock company can be completed. To open books for a general sub- 

 scription would mean that 180,000 of actual stock would have to be 

 placed, piece-meal, httle by little, all over the counti y, before this 

 organization could be completed, and before a wheel could be turned 

 toward holding a shoot. If $29,999 were pledged and the cash up. this 

 company could not elect an officer or spend a single dollar, because 

 it would not have comphed with the law. It is folly to suppose that 

 on a mere guess the shooters of Ameilca would cast money on the 

 air for a problematical tournament, to be held by nobody knows 

 whom, at a date left undetermined. The only practical plan was that 

 proposed by Mi'. Donald at the meeting of Jan. 12, ^v•hich was accu- 

 rately reported nowhere but in these columns. Mr. Donald has or- 

 ganized several successful stock companies, and his voice of guidance 

 was a practical one. Mr. Donald explained the necessity of an accom- 

 modation placing of the stock, to save time and get to work immedi- 

 ately. The Secretary of State is inaiflerent whether a subscriber be 

 a trap sboottsr or not. The trap shooters, however, do not choose to 

 be governed by anything but the voice of their associates. To this 

 end, the wise motion prevailed that those shooters actually present 

 should express their wishes, the same to be the guidance for the ac- 

 commodation holder. Votes to this end were taken. This -was all 

 there was to the so-called "Ulegal election" which a much misinformed 

 contempory condemned in several columns of vague rant about the 

 matter. 



lyir. Organ said at the meeting of Jan. 12 that he could place the re- 

 maining stock, but he later failed to do so, for good reasons, and then 

 a deep and peacefid calm settled on ihe affairs of the association. A 

 good many of these Chicago people don't care to go ahead and put up 

 money for some one else's good, and get norhing but abuse in return 

 no miitter how unjust or libelous such abuise may be. Some of the 

 original subscribers declared that they dian't care to go on if then- 

 unselfish work was to be called selfishness. An affah-' of this kind, 

 with little or no financial profit in it, is very hard to nold together at 

 best. It takes very httle to cool down so indifferent an interest and 

 the indignation of the few grew into a coolness on the part of the 

 many. The coolness gi'ew as the delay went on, the stocK being stiU 

 unplaced. 



Things were in this state when Mr. Percy Stone came on the execu- 

 tive committee of the Illinois Association. Mr. Stone also is a ijrac- 

 tical business man and has organized two or three stock companies, 

 notably the Standard Lumber Co., of Chicago, whose rating the 

 curious may find in the commei-cial agencies. jMr-. Stone said, briefly 

 "I can place that stock and have that association running m just 

 eleven legal days from now." It being stiU the wish of a few to see 

 the shoot go on and come to a successful fulfillment, a meeting was 

 held and tlie secretary of the orignal meeting \vas instructed to issue 

 notice to all the subscribers of stock lor a meetiug to be held Wed- 

 nesday, April 12, at 8 P.M., at the Sherman House, Chicago. The 

 subscription of stock was as follows: R. B. Organ lu shares, F. 0 

 Donald 10 shares, A. NV. Knox 10 shares, John J. Kleiuman 1 .share' 

 W. L. ShepardlO shares, K, Bingham lu shares, E. Hough 10 shares 

 R. 0. Heikes 10 sbtu-es, A. Drake 1 shai-e, F. R. Bisseh 3 shares n b' 

 Dicks 10 shares, W. H. Cobb 10 shares, R. MerrUi, of Milwaukee, 10 

 shai-es, H. B. Meyera 10 shares, VV. N. Low 10 shares, F. A. Plar-e S 

 shares, L. ftl. HaJulme 10 shares, J. E, Price 1 share, Chas. D. Gammon 

 SO shares. 



notices to the above were duly sent out by Secretary Shepard. Mr 

 Stone was on hand and ready, at his word, to complete the subscrip- 

 tion of the stock. Had there been any adequate backing by the Chi- 

 cago signers the as.sociation would be a legal fact to-day, berVue it rbe 

 problematical future which it always bad, but with it the apfirrnal of 

 sensible men who believe in work, not visionary talk. As it was. hovv- 

 ever, tnere responded to the caU only a few, Mr. R. B, Ox-gan, >lr W 

 L. Shepard, Mr. P. C. Donald, Mr, P. b\ Stone, .Mr. M. J. Eich ami tlie 

 writer. Among these are some very busy men who cannot afford to 

 waste thehftime. These promptly declmed to further try to do any- 

 bing for shooters which shooters would not try to do for themselves, 



]\Ir. Stone declined to place the stock under the circumstances, and 

 there the matter ended, just when it was upon the point of a success- 

 ful issue. 



THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING. 



There were present, it so happened, nearly aU the working officers 

 of the Illinois State Sportsmen's Association, to wit, Mr. Oi'gau, presi- 

 dent, Mr. Shepard, secretary -treasm-er, and for the board of directors 

 Messrs. Donald, Bich, Stone and Hough, only Mr. Edbrooke heing ab- 

 sent. The president at once called a meeting of the connuittee, Mr. 

 Donald, chairman of the board, taldng the chair. Action was then 

 taken as above announced. The formal motion was as follows: "That 

 the Illinois State Sportsmen's Association announce a World's Fair 

 Shoot, to be held under the auspices of tbe Ilhnois State Sportsmen's 

 Association, to be given imraediatelj^ after the tournament of June, 

 1893, and to continue two weeks or longer, open to the world." This 

 was carried after long and patient discussion, wherein it was resolved 

 to aid this open shoot in every way possible in order to make it a suc- 

 cess. Furthei- business was transacted as follows: A proposition from 

 Mr. Fred. Erb to do all the retrieving at the State tournament with his 

 dogs was declined. It was decided to make the club team champion- 

 ship trophy a sohd silver cup, value $)100. The secretary was instructed 

 to refuse the dues of the Carman Gun Club so long as young Babcock 

 slaoiild be a member. 



A communication was read from Messrs. W. Fred Quimby & Co., of 

 New York, requesting the privilege of erecting a tent upon the 

 grounds, for the purpose of displaying guns, etc. It was moved by 

 Sir. Hough that the privilege be granted. Seconded by Mr. Eich and 

 carried. " 



The secretary was instructed to write to the Cleveland Target Co. 

 that the executive committee conctirred with Mr. .John Watson in the 

 matter of using the bluerock target in the tournament. The meeting 

 then adjourned. 



A FAIH STATEMENT. 



This is the last step taken iti the matter of the World's Fair shoot, 

 and so far as I know the above is a perfectly fair statement of all the 

 different steps preceding this. I have been at pains in recounting 

 some of this, for it is due the shooters of the country that they should 

 know all the steps and all the facts, and Imow them fuUy and im- 

 partiaUy before they express a natm-al dissatisfaction at being de- 

 prived of a grand VVorid's Fair shoot with many thousands of dol 

 lars up for prizes. I do not think such a statement can be found in 

 any paper but Forest and Stream. 



A few opinions. 



It would be quite wrong, I beheve, to throw cold water on the 

 World's Fair shoot as it now stands, or to call it in advance a failure. 

 All forms of sport, those of the rifle, the rod, the sail— every branch 

 of field sports indeed — wiU have prominent celebration here this sum- 

 mer. So also will the sport of trap-shooting. The World s Fair shoot 

 wUl be a great one. Still there are many who think that a bigger 

 shoot could have been given by a stock company. I think this, 

 though I question very much whether a successful shoot could have 

 been held so late as October. Suppose we admit for the sake of the 

 argument only, what is not really the case, that the World's Fair trap 

 slioot is a faUure. The question naturaUy arises. What was the cause 

 of the faUm-e? In my humble opinion the "failure" is chiefly to be 

 charged to the most unbusinesslike delay in completing the legal or- 

 ganization of the proposed association in exactly the way that was 

 originally proposed. Others think that men won't work for other 

 men for nothing, and that the movement was fore-doomed to failure. 

 Still others — weak sisters, who ought to have some liniment and a red 

 flan nel rag for their flaccid sore throat— think that the abusive edi- 

 torials of the American Field had something to do with it. Curious, 

 in a jom nalistic way, as to what could make a newspaper man com- 

 mit a piece of fooHsbness so injurious to his own interests. I was inter- 

 ested in a, tew expressions of opinion I gathered during conversations 

 on Wednesday last. • 



B. B. Organ, President 1. S. 8. A.— 'l can teU you the bed-rock 

 reason why Doc Rowe wrote that editoriaL You don't any of you 

 know, but I do. It was because I appointed the Forest and Stream 

 representative on my executive committee." 



F. C. Donald, of Fx. Com. — "Original and unconquerable asininity 

 made him do it." 



M. J. Eich, of Ex. Com.— "I can't see why Dr. Rowe shoidd feel that 

 way, but let it go. It does no good to stir these things up." 



P. F. Stone, of Ex. Com.— "'Pshaw! What difference does it make? 



fr. B. LeOingwetl, of Clinton, la.— "I was very much surprised to 

 see the editorials in question." 



W. L. Shepard, Sec'y I. 8. 8. A.— 'It is a shame that gentlemen 

 should be so misrepresented as we were in the Field. I would sign a 

 protest to that effect." 



\V. P. Mus-se^/.- "Would the third vice-president have taken the 

 presidency if he had had the chancer WeU, now, would a duck swim? 

 If Rowe didn't, it would be the first thing he ever didn't take that didn't 

 cost anything." 



These were aUwith whom I talked that evening, but there is a gen- 

 eral and robust objection in aU trap-shooting circles hereabout, at 

 least, to the false and injurious statements made in this editorial com- 

 ment of the paper above referred to. I never, in aU my newspaper 

 experience, saw so Avretched and absm-d a newspaper blunder. The 

 paper which is false to its own constituency is driving nails into its 

 own journaUstic coffin. To do this it cei-tainly has my free consent, 

 indeed my hearty approbation in it. This is a free country, and a man 

 canburyhimself if he wants to, and not even be remembered very 

 long. Such journalistic mistakes bring their own rebuke and make 

 their own comment. After they are made it is hard to retrieve the 

 lost ground, for popular faith and confidence in a newspaper once 

 gone, and its motives discovered to be ready personal, mean and little, 

 the day of that paper speeds thenceforth rapidly to its waning. Much 

 of the truth of this, and much of the popular resentment the editor of 

 the American Field seems, now too late, to realize, for he resorts to 

 the old country journal dodge of "dunmiy letters," all, of course, ap- 

 proving the wisdom of his policy in glowing terms. One of these, I 

 am told, purports to come from Detroit, and to be written by a "Vet- 

 eran Sportsman," who forgets to give his name. This "Veteran Sports- 

 man" is a mighty close cousin, methinks, to old Vox PopuU. "Veteran 

 Sportsman" refers to the Forest and Streaji representative, I am 

 told, as an "adolescent screed." I presume "adolescent Swede" is 

 what he meant, anyhow it is better English. The A. i*'. never was 

 very strong on EugUsh, except of the raU fence sort. Now% if this 

 "Veteran Sportsman," of Detroit, mind you, Detroit, Mich., wiU kindly 

 send me his name and addi-ess, I don't know but I might run over and 

 make him a pleasant caU some day. He might like to see the adoles- 

 cent screed- Swede, I mean. 



The fact is, this Veteran Sportsman sits at the same desk with 

 Nicholas Rowe— "Doctor" N. Rowe. "Doctor" Nicholas writes a 

 glowing editorial with one hand— usuaUy with his left hand, I am 

 regretfully forced to beheve— and with the other hand he writes a 

 hearty approval of said glowing editorial. It is in this second effort 

 that the "Doctor" comes out strong. Here is where he doth indeed 

 get in his work. "Veteran Sportsman," "Constant Reader," "Old 

 Shooter," and all the others, long-time friends and acquaintances, 

 haUtoyel Ye come out of the more earnest hand of the two. i 

 wonder if the innocent readers of the country know how much bogus 

 corresiiondence is forced down theh- throats by a paper padded full of 

 dummy names? That such dummy letters are used unstintedly on the 

 American Field I am in a position to know very weU. They are not 

 tolerated as a method in reputable journaUsrn. They are not used on 

 Forest ANh Stream. 



other papers. 



Other papers condemn the course of the American Field as in- 

 jurious to a mo veuient which would be beneficial to sport and bene- 

 ficial to the reputation of Chicago. The Chicago Evening Journal 

 (dailjO, an old and conservative paper, roundly scores the "sore- 

 heads" who tried to kUl tins shoot. The SportsmerCs Revieiu prints a 

 well-written editorial on the "Dog in the Manger," which rasps the 

 self-important "Doctor" hard and rudely along the spine. Others, 

 daiUes, are now iuquu-ing about the case and more comment may fol- 

 low. The press of the nation is proud of Chicago after all and' does 

 not wish to see her name besmirched. An effort to kiU one of her 

 enterprises is an attempt to besmh-ch her name. "\ATiere has there 

 been a word of favorable comment for this course of the editor in 

 handj outside of his own paper; and of that inside, how much was 

 genume? 



A QUArsT little burro stobt. 

 My interest in all this must be a journaUstic one, and I regret tbat 

 this must soon be left as stale news matter. It isn't often a fellow 

 gets a chance like this, as the boy said when he broke into the -jam 

 pot. StUl, I want to have aU the fun out of it I can. and before I 

 leave it 1 really mtist tell a story, A story is always in order. This 



studied phUosophy in school, but the story goes. 



It happened this way. A party of us were out bear hunting, up in 

 the moimtains of New Mexico. Night came on, we went into camp. 

 Picketing om- pack animals near by, \\n made a fire, cooked supper] 

 ate it, and spreading our blankets near the fli-e, lay down for a brief 

 season of that happy content known only to hunters and those of easy 

 consciences. We had malice in our hearts toward none except the 

 bear family. The thought of fear did not enter our minds. There 

 seemed nothing to molest us. 



We had lain quietly thus for a time, our minds fixed on the plans 

 for the foUo wing day, and little dreaming of any intrusion. AU about 

 us was quiet. The fire burned snapping and mei-rily. We were 

 happy. 



AU at once there came an apparition, a demon of fright, A huge 

 gray form of commanding height appeared tipon the circle of the flre- 

 light. Two great eyes flamed forth upon us. A roar whose like none 

 of us had heard before broke the echoes all about us into crazy frag- 

 ments. 



It was an awful moment. Thoroughly frightened, each man of us 

 grasped his rifle, sprang away from the fire, and sought the nearest 

 tree. We took to the woods. We were scared. ^Tiat was it? What 

 could it be? That voice, how terrifying. Was it grizzly, mountain 

 hon, or royal Bengal tiger? Providence alone knew. It was a new 

 one on us. 



^Ve stood around, trembling and anxious, for some tune. We did 

 not know just why we were scared, and we couldn't seem to find out. 

 At length, as we gazed nervously toward the spot whence had issued 

 that prodigious, weird, wild, uncanny, indescribable sound, there was 

 a rnstle of the leaves, and there appeared within the lighted circle a 

 familiar form. Diminutive, with long ears, with no great personal 

 charm, but a nerve that surrounded him Uke a Renaissance halo— we 

 recognized him, it, the cause of our unreasoning fright. It was Jack, 

 one of oiu bm-rosi 



Our royal Bengal tiger had no stripes. He wasn't buUt right for a 

 tiger. Our unknown terror of the mountains had a game leg and a 

 sore ear. It was very mortifying, to think we had been scared by this. 

 StUl, it came so unexpectedly, we hardly could oe blamed. 



When we came in from out in the woods, Jack brayed again in wel- 

 come, but we were .sore angered with him, and would none of him. 

 We led him back where he belonged, with sundry facUitations of his 

 progress, fore and aft, which latter he so laid to heart that he never 

 thei'eaf ter, to my knowled.ge, again tried to break in upon the society 

 of gentlemen. 



We never coidd tell what made Jack break in and hoUer in that way, 

 but we aUowed it was because he felt kind of lonesom.e. We had al- 

 ways treated him well. We ahvays fed him, and watered him, and 

 even scratched his back, and kind of joUied him along, you know, be- 

 cause he was useful, in his place, and not a half bad sort of burro, 

 considering the advantages he had had. The trouble with him was 

 tiiat, we being a trifle short of burros, he misconstrued us and got so 

 blame conceited and stuck on himself that he thought he was running 

 the whole ranch. He would do anything In his moments of desire 

 for human companionship he would break right into camp. I don't 

 doubt that he sincerely thought he owned that camp. 



He didn't. 



NO COMPARISON OF THE TWO. 



At this stage of the game I know right weU what a good many peo- 

 ple are going to think. They think I am going to say that because 

 some of the members of the World's Fan- Trap Shooters' Association 

 were seared away by the loud, wild wad of neglected egotism, I am 

 going to draw a paraUel between that scene and the scene in camp, 

 and so come on to say, tn good stereotyped jom-nalistic fashion, that 

 the editor of the American Field was the ass who caused the unneces- 

 sary fright. Those who think thus are much mistaken, lam going to 

 do nothing of the kind. I disclaim all intention of being so disrespect- 

 ful, nay, so unjust. 1 shall draw no paraUel and make no comparison. 

 Indeed, there is no comparison between these two animals. Moreover, 

 I trust that I have not lived openly so long as now to be accused of 

 having forgotten a frieud. no matter how humble, albeit misled, that 

 fi-iend may have bjeu, there were worse burros in the world than 

 Jack. 



On the other hand, so far do I feel from instituting a comparison 

 here, I can call up many respects in which these two are altogether 

 dissimUar, I once knew Jack to kUl a goat. He was a good shot with 

 his lett hmd leg. No one ever accused "Doctor" Rowe of being a good 

 shot with anytning, and he never kiUed a head of big game in his Iffe. 

 There is no comparison here, you see, though I confess I am left a 

 trifle obscure in my own mind why "Doctor" Rowe should pose as an 

 authority on shooting matters. Does any one know why he should i 

 Does anybody have any idea how he can ? Should it come to a con- 

 test of skiU between these two. or a question of right to pose &s an 

 authority, I should have to back Jack, i trust 1 do not forget a friend. 



CERTAIN SIMILARITIES. 



It is true, I confess with considerable shame. Jack could not cast a 

 fly, nor cast a bait, nor name a fish if it jumped into his boat, but in 

 this the best the editor of the American Field could get out of him 

 woidd be a tie, for he can't do any of these things himself. I don't 

 think Jack ought to pose as an authoidty on any of these things. 



Jack couldn't break a dog without kicking it. He couldn't pole a 

 boat, or row one, or paddle one, or shoot on the wing, or stalk a deer, 

 or skin a muskrat, even, StUl, he didn't write about these things, or 

 pass upon the writings of others. Of course, ff' it should come to a 

 comparison— but I have said there should be none, and none is neces- 

 sary. Yet again I am troubled in my mind as to that posing as an 

 authority. But then, Jack didn't. I must be just to a friend. 



No, there are too many dissimUarities to be making any compari- 

 sons here. For instance, if it came to going across country after the 

 hounds. Jack would be in it, and the "Doctor" wouldn't. Jack saw 

 many a hare com-sed in New Mexico. The editor of the American 

 Field never saw one coursed, anywhere, in his lite. 



THE STAR BtlRRO OF THE SETTLEMENT. 



Indeed, barring his intense and obtrusive egotism, for which I always " 

 felt that oiw mistaken kiminess was largely to blame. Jack, the star 

 burro of our settlement, was by no means a bad sort of animal. Com- 

 parison? Why, there is no comparison, I repeat, where, all other 

 matters of sportsmanlike accomplishment being as in this case a prac- 

 tical tie, one animal yet surpasses the other so clearly in honesty, in 

 sincerity, in robustness of character, in virile purpose, and in all that 

 makes one worthy of a friend. Authority? Guide? Mentor? Leader? 

 CounseUor? Bahl The game is played out. The imposition has gone 

 far enough. 



' For writing this I may be called bitter. I don't feel bitter. I feel 

 plenty sweet and good. But 1 have the same right to bitterness which 

 every man who attended that association meeting had. every one of 

 whom was insidted by the lying editorials of a man who, having no 

 claim on earth thereto outside of his own vanity, sets himself up as an 

 authority and oracler on matters in which he is really nothing but a pre- 

 tending ignoramus. Shoidd such Btatem*»nts seem bitter to the editor of 

 the American Field, or to "Doctor" Nicholas Rowe, he can resent 

 them as he likes, but he should remember that he was the fu'st to offer 

 the attack. The Forest and Stream representative sought no office 

 in these matters, nor did he feel any jealousy. It was his wish to 

 work with the American Field and all other papers in perfect har- 

 mony, for the good of the World's Fau shoot. The records of the 

 meetings wiU show this clearly. I have raised no hand against the 

 majority. With that my allegiance ceases. Against a spiteful egotism 

 which takes the f oi'm of falsification and which is injm-ious alike to 

 myself and my friends, I can raise hand prompt and sure enough. 



COMB TO THE WORLD'S IfAIR SHOOT. 



Meanwhile Chicago is stUl doing business at the old stand. Come 

 out and see our new lUinois State rules. We shoot ten-gauges and 

 twenty gauges at the same distance out here, as per the wise notion 

 of this same oracle, by the way. StiU, there are a few of us left. We 

 are going to try to hold a httle shoot here, if we can get permission. 

 We wdl have a few J, Watson pigeons and several kegs of bluerocks! 

 We won't have $30,000 to shoot for, as we hoped and as we should 

 have had, but we wiU have a little sometliing, and there wUl be a wel- 

 come, if we can get permission to have a welcome. We will try to 

 have a pleasant time, and there wiU be much to see. We can't have 

 any international championship shoot for big money, as we hoped, 

 but we will open a few 10 bird sweeps, $1, if we can get permission. 

 Chicago is the only city in the world havmg the two-handed editor, 

 which is a third vice-president, which writes with both hands, and 

 best with its oft'-hand. It also is the parent of the new Ilhnois State 

 rules. 



Come to the World's Fan- shoot, boys. Come in from out in the 

 woods and gather again around the fire and be comfortable. Of course 

 this was rather awkward, but we didn't know that — this — was going 

 to do it. Come on in, don't be afraid of — this. It won't hurt you. Be- 

 sides, we're going to take it out and leave it where it belongs — in the 

 darkness, whence it emerged for reasons bmled too deep for discovery 

 in the inscrutable heart of natm'e. 



The dog-in-the-manger spirit has always been held the type of sense- 

 less malice, but even the dog in tbe manger can be speedily forgotten 

 Come, and if we can't eat corn we'll eat hay, e. Hough. 



175 MoKROB Street, Chicago, fom'th floor, first desk to the right. 



iafsr.— Additional comphcations may arise from scarcity of pigeons 

 in June. John Watson reports birds hard to get and di-eads inade- 

 quate supply. Forest and Stream wUl advise the shooters of the 

 country fuUy and fairly as to this, so they may know what to expect 

 at shoot. E. fl. 



Wheeling vs. Columbus. 



WbEELiNG, W. Va., AprU 8.— I inclose you the scores of team shoot 

 between the Sherman Gun Club of Columbus, O.. and the Island Gim 

 Club of Wheeling, W. Va., which took place at Columbus on AprU 5 

 The day proved to be pleasant, though the shooting was made some' 

 what difficult by a tricky wmd. The sweepstakes were weU patron 

 ized, the entries runnmg as high as 33 and not less than 30 in anv 

 match of the day. The six members of the Island Gun Club were re 

 ceived and treated with unbounded hospitality by the Sherman Gun 

 Club and the Columbus boys wiU ever hold a warm place in the hearts 

 of the West Virgmia shooters who were fortunate enough to be urea 

 ent. The absence of Dr. Geo. M. Waters, the prime mover and maior 

 dome of shooting aflau-s m and about Columbus, was greatly rewetted 

 by aU and was the subject of sympathy, as the doctor was con&ed to 



