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FOREST AND _ STREAM. 
heavy fog compelled -the pilots to run ashore and tie up. 
We all went to sleep, I in a chair with my head on a 
tool chest, the negroes either on benches or sprawled on 
the floor, lulled by the droning and hum of the electric 
light motor. 
We took on some cattle and pigs at various landings. 
The animals were in poor condition mostly, for the corn 
crop in northern Alabama has failed for the past three 
years, and many of the farmers hadn't enough corn for 
seed. They were shipping the critters to keep them from 
starving, I was told. The darkies enjoyed loading the 
cattle. To see them hauling and dragging and sometimes 
literally carrying a struggling and snorting heifer down a 
muddy bank, over a cleated staging, with loud yells and 
laughter, was a curious sight to spectators, and funny, too, 
when it happened that the beast was more scared than 
hurt. The way to carry a pig, a passenger told me, was 
to throw the animal on its back, grip the fingers of each 
hand into the sides just back of the diaphragm, and then 
hoist it up to either shoulder. In this way any hog of 
ordinary Southern size can be carried to the best advan- 
tage. Some of the darkies, however, lugged the creatures 
on board holding by the hoofs, and their struggles were 
entertaining. 
Two sportsmen were on board. Thej' were going up the 
Tennessee a hundred or so miles duck hunting. They had 
a red yawl and a negro to row it, two shotguns, one a 
repeater, the other a double-barreled. 
On Feb. 17 we reached Chattanooga again. I was 
pretty tired, and decided to remain there a few days. The 
weather was cold, dismal, foggy, and the snow on the 
ground was hard to face, even from a boat on the river. 
So I loafed around town for several days. It was a 
pleasant place to stay in. 
I found magazines and weekly papers at the Y. M. C. 
A. rooms, and spent a score of hours in reading them. 
Save for occasional glimpses at papers, I had not been 
able to read for months. It was now luxury to sit still 
and read amid comfortable surroundings. I met several 
of the boys, of course, and on one evening saw games of 
basket ball, through the courtesy of Secretary Earle B. 
Besley. Perhaps half the pleasure a tired one gets from 
watching such games is derived from the idea that he is 
a spectator, not a participator. But the delight in seeing 
the lithe and muscular motions of prowess is due to the 
other half. 
I went to a book store one day and bought Goethe's 
poems (translated). It was long before I selected them 
from the long rows of books. Much used to books and to 
dabbling here and there in half a dozen or so, to see the 
various sides of some single question, to pick a single book 
was hard. Here and there among the verses were frag- 
ments that it was pleasing to read. One, especially, was 
sweet and tender in thought: 
EVENING. 
Peace breathes along the shade 
Of every hill; 
The treetops of the glade 
Are hushed and still; 
All woodland murmurs cease, 
The birds to rest within the brake are gone. 
Be patient, weary heart — anon, 
Thou, too, shalt be at peace! 
Being at Chattanooga, I went to Mission Ridge and 
Orchard Knobb, because there is where so many men 
fought in the days of the Civil War. The rifle pits, now 
worn down, the slopes which were then bare, but now 
tree-grown; the monuments with their lists of dead and 
wounded — it was not possible to look on places like those 
unmoved by the memory, aided by the scene. Indeed, one 
could almost fancy that the battle was still waged there. 
But such a fancy is only a step from the old graveyard 
and house haunts. On the old battle ground — on the 
wide flat — among some second-growth trees, there was a 
snow fort, and on the day I was there a dull rain was 
slowly melting this away. A fight with snowballs on such 
a field has its suggestiveness. 
I saw the shackled prisoners shoveling away the snow 
that slushed the streets — ten-day men, apparently, and the 
two white ones ashamed of the company they were keep- 
ing. Their guards, like other men who follow the sheriff 
and deputy sheriff business in that region, had the pecu- 
liar strong- jawed look of cold-blooded shooters. 
The Blue Jacket Inn is where I stopped, recommended 
by raftsmen. Claud Turner, there, Avas a remarkable 
youth — a singer, song-and-dance artist ; he was scullion in 
the lodging house. He told how a mesmeric "professor" 
hired him to "do a turn" at an exhibition of the profes- 
sor's powers. At the proper time, Claud got under the 
influence and did a stunt. But to please the lady pianist 
and squelch the head of the orchestra, who had a bet 
as to whether Claud was asleep or not, Claud winked at 
her, r and so the head of the orchestra lost. 
At last, on Monday morning, Feb. 24, I went afloat on 
the Tennessee again in my boat. I had been out of it 
fourteen days, and the return to it was a pleasure. It 
seemed as though I had been traveling in a circle, but now 
once more I was going ahead. I had some misgivings, 
though, for the J*ick and Boiling Pot and other bad 
water of the river, was less than fifteen miles away. In 
spite of assurances by pilots that one could go "through 
them on a log," I wished that I was safely past them. 
Raymond S. Spears. 
Dogs of the Day* 
Mrs. Margaret Reichert, of 955 Grand street, Eastern 
District, is at St. Catherine's Hospital with a fractured 
skull, her injury, she says, being caused by an Italian 
woman, who is unknown to her, with a bottle. When 
she was found lying in front of her home last night a 
Great Dane dog stood guard over her body and would 
allow nobody to approach. An ambulance surgeon had 
his trousers torn by the dog's teeth in attempting to min- 
ister to the woman. With the aid of the driver, he beat 
the animal off, and placed the woman in the ambulance. 
The dog followed to the hospital, and there, while the 
woman was being carried inside, made off with another 
hunk of the doctor's unmentionables. 
All communications intended for Forest and Stream should 
always be addressed to the Forest and Stream Publishing Co., New 
York.'and not to any individual connected with the paper. 
A Relic of Indian Days. 
Lockport, N. Y. — Editor Forest and Stream: In your 
issue of May 24 Mr. C. M. Stark writes of "an old Indian 
mill or mortar cut in solid granite" and would like to 
know if others exist. 
From my boyhood days (at least sixty years) in the 
village of Theresa, N. Y., I have known of such a mortan 
but not of such dimensions as Mr. Stark reports. It was 
cut in the solid sandstone rock, which was as "smooth as 
a barn floor" literally speaking, and where to-day a num- 
ber of houses and barns stand and at least seventy-five 
(75) feet above the waters of Indian River. I remember 
it as being from twelve to fifteen inches in diameter and 
six inches deep, with a circle of an inch or more from 
edge of bowl. I spent last summer at Theresa and was 
on the street that passes within ten feet of the mortar, 
which has now been covered with earth for a lawn in 
front of a house. 
I asked if it could be located and was told that it 
could. I made the remark that I would give $5 for it 
taken out whole. As I am to spend the coming sum- 
mer there I shall investigate the probability of secur- 
ing it. 
In inclose photograph of an Indian pot found within 
half a mile of the mortar, hidden in the loose rocks 
between the river and the ledge. The pottery is nearly 
perfect; there is what seems to be a small fire crack on 
one side in its largest diameter, otherwise it is as perfect 
as shown in the photograph, which was taken last Tulv 
by my son, W. P. Davison, of Buffalo, N. Y. 
J. L. Davison. 
The Appalachian National Park, 
Ashville, N. C, May 27.— Editor Forest and Stream: 
in response to your inquiry of recent date concerning 
the present status of the movement now pending before 
Congress toward the establishment of an Appalachian 
National Forest Reserve, I would state that the Com- 
mittee of Agriculture of both the Senate and House have 
favorably reported a bill asking for an appropriation of 
ten million dollars, two million of which is to be im- 
mediately available, it being desired to eventually secure 
a reserve of at least two million acres. 
Since this bill was favorably reported to the House 
Congressman Moody has made every effort to get a hear- 
ing of the measure, and now reports that the Committee 
on Rules have agreed that the measure shall have a hear- 
ing before the expiration of the present session. Con- 
gressman Elliott of South Carolina has already presented 
the advantages of the proposed reserve. 
In the Senate since the bill has been favorably re- 
ported, Senator Pritchard has made an exhaustive speech 
covering this subject, a copy of which I herewith in- 
close you. 
Inasmuch as the bill which is now proposed has been 
amended in such a way that it meets all the objections 
which have heretofore been raised, the prospects for the 
reserve are to-day brighter than they have ever been. 
The lumbermen of the section under consideration, and 
indeed the lumbermen over the whole country, at one 
time were antagonistic toward this movement, but since 
the clause has been adopted in the new bill which allows 
the cutting of ripe timber under Government supervision, 
the lumbermen have now ceased to oppose the same and 
are making no objection. In fact, on May 17, the Na- 
tional Hardwood Lumbermen's Association, in session 
assembled at St. Louis, passed a resolution urging upon 
Congress the importance of establishing a national for- 
est reserve in the hardwood region of the southern Ap- 
palachian Mountains. 
There is very little doubt but that the measure will 
be considered in both the Senate and House before the 
expiration of the present session, and once again we wish 
to urge upon the readers of Forest and Stream that 
they can greatly assist the cause if they will take it upon 
themselves to write to their Congressmen and Senators 
calling their attention to the measure and urging their 
careful consideration of it. There certainly has 
never before appeared in Congress a movement which 
should so greatly interest all lovers of the woods, the 
flora and the wild creatures found therein as the present 
Appalachian Forest Reserve movement, particularly 
should this be true of all the sportsmen, fishermen and 
lovers of wild things in the East. If this measure is put 
through, it will band down to posterity the only remain- 
ing hardwood virgin forests to be found in America, 
and that, too, a forest in one of the most scenic sections 
of the States and one where the best trout fishing in the 
country is to be found to-day. 
We are going to succeed. Will you not lend your as- 
sistance by addressing your Representatives as above 
stated? C. P. Ambler. 
Stage Gun Play. 
The pistol habit has grown to an alarming extent in 
this country in the past few years. 
The result is set forth in a more or less realistic man- 
ner in the daily press. 
The class of men who habitually carry a pistol, with 
the intention of using it in any difficulty in which they 
may become involved, is large and they cannot be dis- 
tinctively classified, either as to age or position. 
The younger men will probably predominate, but it is 
by no means alone the hot blood of youth that inclines 
to the indulgence of this habit, so dangerous to society 
at large, as the records show. 
Husbands' and fathers' names are often found in the 
lists set forth in the daily press of those, who by means 
of the pistol habit, have earned the brand of Cain. 
That the prevalence of the habit is largely due to a 
false view of life will be conceded by all, but what is 
the most potent and ubiquitous factor in the dissemina- 
tion of the false view is a matter not so readily agreed 
upon. 
Unhesitatingly and without fear of contradiction it 
may be said that a large number of victims of the habit 
contract it by reason of the prominence given the pistol 
in the modern play— so-called — the extremely sensational 
plays, with strenuous action. 
These aggregations — many of which are now traveling 
through the country — may be meanly outfitted as to cos- 
tumes and scenery, and they may be presented by humble 
and lowly talent that yet lacks distinction in the histrionic 
field, but the gun equipment will be full, complete, and 
up to date. 
Every one taking at all a prominent part will show 
one pistol, and the stars will be supported by a pair. 
In these exhibitions virtue is defended by the pistol; 
vice is defeated by the pistol. 
The dashing and ever successful hero maintains his 
superiority over the crafty villain by reason of the fact 
that his pistol or pistols are the better weapons, and he 
more expert in their use. 
The beautiful heroine, beset by many dangers, the re- 
sult of the machinations of villains, when rescued by the 
well armed hero, is not infrequently allowed to imme- 
diately discharge the debt of gratitude by an opportune 
rescue of her rescuer, accomplished by the aid of one 
and often two pistols. 
To many young men, launched forth in life with little 
knowledge, and less training, with undeveloped or mis- 
directed ambitions, these strained and morbid scenes 
portrayed in the gun play dramas are real and their moral 
plain. 
They read the lesson of unvarying success thus set 
forth, and come to believe that life's highest attainments 
are to be sought at the pistol butt. 
To the educated and refined man the pistol on the 
stage is both incongruous and painful, but the educated 
and refined man is not much in evidence at these gun 
shows. 
The legitimate weapon of the drama, the sword, has 
been all but crowded off of the modern stage, and with 
it has gone the cloaked and booted swashbuckler, who in 
days gone by interested and entertained, but never 
awakened the keen desire to emulate that his successor, 
in faultless evening attire, or natty business suit, correct 
and up to date, armed with pistols, now succeeds in do- 
ing. 
Let the sword play be ever so realistic, the odds 
against the hero ever so great, his success wonderful, the 
most callow and unsophisticated youth in the audience 
sees but a play, and would feel no more desire to arm 
himself with a sword than to don roll top boots, cloak 
and coat of mail. 
The real verdant youth who sits trembling in an agony 
of fear and suspense, through a play filled with pistol 
action, would rest at ease and breathe regularly through 
a fine bit of sword play where steel clashed on steel, and 
the grace and skill alone of the actors were worthy of 
admiration; and if moved upon at all, would only be 
reminded of the summer's back on the farm, when 
through the long hot days he often heard the old man 
in the hay field, hitting the rusty and edgeless scythe 
vindictive blows with the worn stone. 
Clean, appropriate and harmless is the sword on the 
stage, while the pistol is incongruous and demoralizing. 
Legislative action has been resorted to in all the 
States, to restrict the pistol habit, but no effort has 
been made to arrest the growing evil of the stage ex- 
ample. 
This is a matter within the control of the common- 
wealths, and is of vital importance to society at large. 
Prohibiting the use of pistols on the stage will make 
the plays of more interest and the examples less demoral- 
izing. 
Even those who do not attend these plays are more 
or less influenced by the flaming posters used for ad- 
vertising, portraying numerous thrilling scenes, the ac- 
tors — one and all — armed with pistols. 
The so-called "Tank" show was only ridiculous; this, 
its successor, is vicious. 
Recently one of these aggregations starred the country, 
and having exhausted every conventional pistol picture 
poster, conceived and executed an original idea which 
resulted in a flaming bill advertising the following scene: 
The Hero, Heroine and Villain all appear mounted on 
bicycles. The Villain is in close pursuit of the Hero, 
and is in the act of striking him with a knife. The 
Heroine is hanging over her handle bars in a desperate 
burst of speed, .closing in on the Villain, whom she is 
in the act of shooting with a pistol. 
Probably no one but the small boy, with dime novel 
virus in his system, could be seriously affected by such 
a burlesque, but the general moral tone of such adver- 
tising is low and debasing. 
The pistol is recognized as a distinct menace to the 
