Jan. 24, 1903.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
67 
A Dream that Did Not Come True* 
Retore, Jan. 3. — Editor Forest and Stream : Shortly be- 
fore leaving Boston on ray annual trip to the woods, my 
ife had a dream. She dreamed I was chased by a 
V. ounded moose and trampled to death. She has wonder- 
ful dreams at_ least once a year. She felt sure that some- 
thing wa.s going to happen if I persisted in going. She 
urged that "so many men were shot hy careless hunters," 
etc. I listened very meekly to her pleadings. Then, to 
prove to her how deepl}- 1 was moved, I began to pack my 
grip for Maine. As it fell out, I not only escaped being 
kicked, but did not even see the track of a moose. 
b'l'ank Guntner and Ralph Supplee, of New York, were 
my chums on the trip. We arrived at Grindstone on the 
Bangor & Aroostook road on October 28 in a fierce rain- 
storm. Bert Fiske niet us at the station with a buck- 
board and a lively pair of colts for a six-mile run over a 
muddy course. How the mud did fly on that wild ride! 
We did not turn out for rock or hollow, but plunged 
wildly on through the blinding rain and mud. 
We had several narrow escapes from being tossed into 
the bushes that fringed the road. But we did not mind 
little things like that, for we were in the promised land. 
AVc found a warm welcome and a smoking hot dinner 
awaiting us at the farmhouse, and wefe soon in an en- 
joyable state of mind. 
Al regaled us Avith stories of deer and moose while we 
were eating dinner, and we were anxious to get into har- 
ness and try our "unerring aim" on the light-footed 
tenants of the woods. 
It had rained for a few days previous to our arrival, 
and the woods were soaked. Pools of water were on the 
ridgCs and in all parts of the woods, and the footing was 
very bad. 
We wore the low moccasin and- three pairs of socks, 
but We were soon wet through and had to return to the 
house. 
Oh the third day of our stay the thermometer dropped 
to the ffeezing point, Then our hunting stopped, One 
could not get in sight of a deer, owing to the ice and 
frozen earth and leaves. We tried sitting down and wait- 
ing for them on the ridges, but beechnuts were scarce 
this year and the deer Avere not working on the ridges. 
They seemed to keep to the swamps. And you would 
Soon find your teeth chattering and your knees knocking 
each other after you _ had sat for two or three hours. 
We found plenty of signs, but failed to get near enough 
to see game. 
Ffank had brought small traps with him, and had an 
enjoyable- time Catching minks and musquash. He got 
one mink that he thought making a pet of. The mink 
would allow us to stroke his back and head and appeared 
to be satisfied to live a civilized life. Frank contem- 
plated presenting him to the Zoological Park in New 
York. But the mink changed his mind one day and 
buried his teeth in Frank's thumb. I pried his jaw open 
with my knife, but the mink took a new hold and his 
keeper howled with the pain. We finally freed Frank, 
and he will not again attempt to play with a mink. 
Al went out one afternoon to wait for a deer to show 
up. He heard a wildcat calling, and decided to try and 
bring the cat up to him. He uttered an unearthly howl, 
as near alike tO' a cat's as he could, and waited. After a 
minute or two the cat seemed nearer. Al repeated the 
soothing sound, and in a short time the cat came up to 
the log on which he was sitting. . He covered his new 
arrival with his gun and waited to see what would occur. 
The lucifee's eyes snapped fire, and she advanced right 
along the log. to within fifteen feet of the sitter. Al did 
not care to have an argument, so he pulled the trigger 
and dropped the feline. She only weighed eleven pounds, 
but looking at her claws and teetli one was forced to 
conclude that she could make things warm for an im- 
armcd man. She certainly would have sprung on to Al 
in less than a minute if he had not stopped her. 
Ralph, being a green New Yorker, we determined to 
have some fun with him. We arranged that Frank and 
he should go to the spring for water after dark. Frank 
took a shotgun and Ralph took the lantern and pail. The 
lucifee was placed in the bushes and Frank was to fire at 
the object he saw near the spring. The choppers at the 
house were let into the deal. The boys went to the spring 
and shortly after we heard the gun. In a few minutes 
Ralph burst into the kitchen holding the monster by the 
neck. He was almost breathless as he recounted the 
story of the mixup with the cat. He "saw its eyes flash 
as it gave a mighty spring fully twenty feet into the air. 
Then he dashed into the bushes after it and plunged his 
knife through its neck two or three times." Frank did 
not want the skin destroyed, so he dragged him off before 
he could do s,ny more damage. 
As Ralph was telling his story, the boys began to smile, 
and finally the worst of them had to turn their faces to 
the wood-box to conceal their blushes. He wondered 
why the body felt so cold when he picked it up, but 
Frank told him it was a cold-blooded animal, and he 
appeared satisfied with the explanation. 
The conditions for good hunting remaining bad, we 
decided to start for Hindi's camp, which is about three 
miles from the liottse. Upon arriving there we were con- 
fronted by the same scarcity of visible game. Tracks and 
signs were plenty, but nothing to be seen. It was the 
worst hunting season for us of any of our trips. 
Ralph had a struggle with a hedge hog, and came out 
on top, but not on top of the hog. 
We found plenty of partridges, but we were not shoot- 
ing partridges in deer country. They are so tame that 
you often can knock them over with a long pole. 
Frank was the lucky one of the party. He found a doe 
feeding in the field near the house, and after she had 
given a few bounds towards the woods he dropped her 
just as she was passing from view. He shot a buck while 
running through the hardwood, and tracked him by blood 
spots on the leaves, finally discovering him dead. 
About the middle of November we had a fall of snow 
and all hands felt jubilant. G. J. Brann and his young 
son joined our party on the eleventh of November. Mr. 
Brann is an old-timer at deer hunting, and the snow made 
his heart glad. 
The snow ceased during the afternoon. A slight 
amount of rain and hail set in, which soon formed a hard 
crust over the snow. Then our spirits sank way down. 
hunting i.mdft such c^siditions. I rnoaiaed 
three weeks and the hunting was discouraging during 
all of the time. Brann hunted for nearly three weeks 
and failed to get near anything. His youthful son had 
better luck, for he shot two small bucks. Funny, is it not, 
how the youngsters get ahead of us old codgers at times? 
My boy got two last year while I failed to score. 
Although I have visited Maine for three seasons, and 
have failed to shoot any deer, yet I have found some- 
thing of far more value than deer meat. 
I have found health and strength in the pine woods. 
I have imbibed courage and vigor from the pure and 
invigorating air. I have been taught many lessons from 
the humble but vigorous people of her woods. They are 
without many of the advantages that city people are 
burdened with, yet they would not change places with 
us. They are their own masters. They care not how 
high prices soar on food or fuel. The mighty woods 
furnishes meat and fuel for them. They can sit easy 
when winter storms howl around their doors, for their 
cellars and bins are full. They are not compelled to 
struggle with the toiling mortals of congested centers. 
They are not pushed and jostled by the nervous workers 
of life. They go along quietly and contentedly with their 
faces showing health and vigor, while worry and discon- 
tent are indelibly stamped upon the visages of our city 
toilers. They have no costly temples of religion to sit 
in and hold communion with their fellows, but they have 
the temples erected by no man, God's everlasting woods 
and mountains. They can look up "through Nature to 
Nature's God" and find solace and content. 
In Nessmuk's "Woodcraft" I find the following forceful 
lines : 
"For brick and mortar breed filth and crime, 
With a pulse of evil that throbs and beats; 
And men are withered before their prime 
By the curse paved in with the lanes and streets. 
"And lungs are poisoned and shoulders bowed 
In the smothering reek of mill and mine; 
And death stalks in on the struggling crowd — 
But he shuns tfie shadow of oak and pine." 
I would therefore urge all who are tired and heavy 
laden to go to the woods. Go in the springtime, go in 
the summer or go in the winter. Mother Nature has 
her arms extended always to greet you. Tired brains 
and muscjes will find rest and renewed life in her turbu- 
lent brooks and silent paths. 
Cast yourself out from civilized life at least once a 
year. Throw away books and papers; cut the line that 
connects you with the busy life of cities and towns, and 
you will soon find the spring of eternal youth. 
Jay Pee, 
Massachusetts Association. 
Boston, Jan. 18. — Editor Forest and Stream: The 
annual meeting of the Massachusetts Fish and Game 
Protective Association for the election of officers and 
other business was held at the Hotel Westminster on 
Wednesday evening, January 14, when about sixty mem- 
bers gathered about the tables and partook of an excellent 
dinner. 
The report of the treasurer and of the fund committee 
showed the association to be in good financial condition, 
and the officers whose names had been presented at the 
December meeting were favored with unanimous election 
as follows : President, James Russell Reed ; Vice-Presi- 
dents: George W. Wiggin, C. M. Bryant, William S. 
Hinman, Heber Bishop, M.D. ; Dr. A. R. Brown, Salem 
D. Charles, C, H. Moulton, J. T. Herrick, M.D.; Ben- 
jamin C. Clark, Robert S, Gray, Edward J. Brown, 
George H. Payne, M.D. ; Dr. B. V. Howe, A. B. F. 
Kinney, A. C. Sjdvester, Dr. D. S. Woodworth. Secre- 
tary and Treasurer, Henry H. Kimball. Librarian, Dr. 
E. W. Branigan. Executive Committee: J. N. Roberts, 
Heman S. Fay, Dr. Maurice H. Richardson, Loring 
Crocker, N. Leroy, C. W. Dimick, John C. Phillips, Rollin 
Jones, A. C. Risteen, George H. Moore, H. H. Hartung, 
M.D.; C. B. Corey. Membership Committee: Thomas 
H. Hall, Waldron B. Hastings, Richard V. Joyce. Fund 
Committee : Geo. W. Wiggin, William S. Hinman, Adel- 
bert D. Thayer. 
During the year 1902 the association has lost many 
valuable members by death. Among them Ex-President 
Col. Horace T. Rockwell and Mr. Charles G. Gibson, of 
the executive committee^ A committee of which Vice- 
President A. B. F. Kinney was chairman presented reso- 
lutions upon their death and Ex-President Benjamin C. 
Clark made the following report on other deceased mem- 
bers : 
"The Massachusetts Fish and Game Protective Asso- 
ciation, at this, the first meeting of the new year, desires 
to place upon its records the heartfelt expression of its 
sense of loss in the removal by death during the past year 
of the following members: 
"Joseph B. Glover, the generous, sagacious and high- 
minded merchant of the old school. 
"James H. Jenkins, one of the last of the old rnaster 
mariners and possessed of their admirable characteristics. 
"Warren Hapgood, a practical sportsman to the end of 
his long life and always a loyal friend, seeking occasions 
of service. 
"Daniel T. Curtis, one of the charter members of the 
club and one of its most genial and useful friends. 
"Charles F. Sprague, a liberal, public-spirited man who 
was always found faithful in every position which he was 
called upon to fill. 
"With tlie exception of Mr. Sprague, all of these gen- 
tlemen lived far beyond the limit of ordinary life, but 
without exception they were all men upon whom our 
association could count in every exigency and whose 
many kindly qualities of character were equalled by their 
faithfulness in the discharge of every duty." 
Mr. Glover was a life member; Messrs. Jenkins, Hap- 
good and Curtis were honorary members. 
Mr. Sprague, when a member of the State Senate and 
afterwards as a member of the National Congress, was 
an earnest worker for protective laws. 
Col. Rockwell was active in efforts to protect smelts 
even before our association was organized. While presi- 
dent of it he was vigilant in looking after its interests, 
and ever since he retired from the first ofl&ce, serving as 
a vice-president, he has rarely missed a meeting of liic 
associaiion or oi t)be boar^i ol seaKasement-. 
The question naturally arises, who will fill the places 
of all the good and true men whom the association has 
lost the past year? Yours truly, 
Henry H. Kimball, Sec'y- 
The Cuvier Club. 
The annual meeting of the Cuvier Club, of Cincinnati, 
was held Jan. 10. The officers elected were : President, 
Alexander Starbuck (which makes his eighth term in that 
office); First Vice-President, J. M. Doherty; Second 
Vice-President, Henry Hanna; Third Vice-President, P. 
Roach; Trustees, to serve three years, EC. C. Culbertson, 
George Gerke and E. M. Pattison. The report of Prof, 
Charles Dury, the custodian of the museum and librarian, 
showed sixty books and pamphlets and six birds donated. 
The game warden reported a total of twenty-four cases, 
of which twelve were convicted, the fines of same 
amounting to $250; there are also four cases pending. 
The reports all show a very prosperous condition of the 
popular organization. 
President Starbuck said in his annual address : 
"The fish and game laws passed by the last Legislature 
have, up to the present date, been found to be very effi- 
cient, only one weak spot so far having been developed 
in them. This was, however, of little consequence, it be- 
ing the rabbit law, which inadvertently permitted having 
legal possession of the 'cottontail' at any time, though the 
killing of it is confined to the close season specified, viz,, 
between November 10 and December 2, and at any time 
when it is discovered nibbling forbidden fruit or sharpen- 
ing its ivories in the orchard. 
"From authentic sources we are satisfied that there 
has been less violation of the game laws in Ohio the past 
year than for a long time. Our warden, ]\lr. Chas. L 
Ryan, has made many searches for forbidden game among 
the market purveyors, clubhouses, hotels, markets and 
cold storage warehouses. A few days before the open 
season he made a most thorough search in the cold stor- 
age houses and other places, but not an illegal feather did 
he secure. He was not a welcome visitor, we assure yuu, 
*and had he been less firm and resolute than he was he 
would not have been permitted to cross the threshold that 
led to the icy chambers. 
"What we desire our Legislature to do is to correct 
the rabbit law, discontinue the spring shooting of ducks, 
give deputy wardens a fair salary so as to insure officials 
of good character, and a more thorough enforcement of 
the laws, make an appropriation of $50,000 for the Fish 
and Game Commission, so as to mote effectually carry 
out the work of propagation in its fish hatcheries, as well 
as a more vigorous enforcement of the game laws. 
"That just such action is needed we have only to GDii- 
sider the terrible destruction to the fish and game that has 
been carried on for the past ten or twenty- years. Look 
at the depletion of Lake Erie of its finny inhabitants ; look 
at the broad and rippling streams that are the receptacles 
of sewage and the poisonous refuse of factories; look at 
the destruction of our great forests that once afforded, 
magnificent cover for the game; look al our green fields 
and meadows that are tramped by an army of poachers; 
look at the cold storage warehouses that are rapidly mul- 
tiplying throughout the States and that enable the market- 
hunter, as well as the pot-hunter and all that ilk, to dis- 
pose of their game at all seasons. In fact, look anywhere 
and you will soon realize that the traditional goose of the 
golden egg is to be again slaughtered." 
Guides at the Sportsmen's Show* 
The general plan of the Ninth Annual Sportsmen's 
Show, to open at Madison Square Garden, New York, 
next month, has been perfected. The arrangement will 
be not unlike that of last year, in that the center orthe 
arena will be given up to a miniature lake with wooded 
islands and surrounding camps and hunters' cabins. 
Several departures from the plan of past shows, however, 
that it is believed will be appreciated by all sport.smen 
will be made. The space heretofore devoted to aquariums 
and game animals will be given up to experienced and 
reliable guides, not only from Maine and the Adiron- 
dacks, but from many sections of the Dommion of 
Canada, from INIontana, Idaho, Colorado and all other 
big-game and fishing regions of the country. During the 
past three months Manager Dressel has been'm direct 
communication with reputable guides in all parts of tlie 
United States and Canada, and outlining to them hts 
plans for the show of 1903, has asked their co-operation. 
"I want," said Capt. Dressel, "to have every hunting 
section of the country represented at the next show by 
well posted and experienced guides who know every 
square foot of their respective districts, and can impart 
their information to visitors to the show. I want these 
guides to reproduce, as nearly as possible, their own 
camps and cabins in Madison Square Garden, and to 
bring with them as much of their original camp furniture 
and fixings as will give these cabins a realistic and tnie- 
to-life appearance; I want them to bring their game 
heads, skins, rifles and trophies of all kinds, and if thej 
have any camp pets, such as cub bear, young deer or 
moose, foxes, raccoons, or other game animals, to bring 
them along and make them features of their respective 
camps. There are hundreds of sportsmen who visit our 
show for no other purpose than that of procuring 111- 
formation that will be of value to them in selecting terri- 
tory for a hunting or fishing trip for the season ahead. 
Consequently, the presence of a big delegation of guides 
will be of advantage to these visitors and to the g\"Qes 
themselves, in that it will enable the latter to establish a 
new list of patrons, and will insure to visitors the infor- 
mation they are after. To this end I have secured the 
co-operation of well-known guides from many pomts ttt 
the far West and Northwest; Maine and the Adirondacks 
will of course be represented; three guides from Nev^ 
Brunswick will be on hand to talk of the advantages of 
that great caribou section, and I have arranged for a 
novelty that will no doubt be appreciated by every prac- 
tical sportsman who enters the Garden, m the presence of 
a quartette of turkey hunters from Virginia. These men 
were bom to the craft, and each and every one of them 
can give a dozen or more parties of city sportsmen all 
the sport they want at the end Qi a night's nde from New 
VofkCJtf." . . 
