president's address. 
141 
secure horns of the moose for the adornment of their homes. 
Somewhat similar observations might be made in regard to deer 
hunting. The other day I read a newspaper paragraph describ- 
ing the killing of a white doe, which, according to the glowing 
description of the circumstance, somebody was “ lucky ” enough 
to shoot. Possibly the shooting of the white doe somewhat jars 
upon one’s poetic sensibility. The white doe abounds in our 
romance literature, usually as the symbol of gentleness and of 
purity, and ought, in fancy at least, to be as free from molestation 
as the lily white maid. I would like to believe that the white 
doe is as sacred as the white elephant in Siam, and to imagine 
that the reverence paid to this last originated in the thoughtful 
mind and tender heart of some S. P. C. A. organized in the dim 
and distant past, who, moved by the strange beauty of the white 
elephant, invented the idea of its sacred character in order to 
save it from being a common beast of burden. 
Now I know very well that in these observations I am upon 
ground which may be easily criticised. I confess to a desire to 
go fishing occasionally ; and I have eaten partridges. We are 
not vegetarians, and the flesh which we eat is procured only at 
the cost to the animal of its life. It is not material to the moose 
after what manner he is slain, and, perhaps, if he could have a 
choice, he might prefer the rifle ball to the rougher method of 
the slaughter house. Then, again, it is proper to note that our 
legislation in recent years has reduced considerably the indis- 
criminate killing of these animals. A general ownership is now 
recognized in them, which is placed under legal regulation ; a 
greedy hunter, who over-shoots the number allowed him by law, 
is punished by fine, and, generally, there are conditions which 
are much better than those which existed a few years ago. But 
whether the moose is increasing in numbers, or whether he is 
being driven from his forest home to the open, is uncertain. 
When, however, one does appear among us, we might allow him 
or her some better treatment than is given. The newspaper 
statements of the way in which the unfortunate animals which 
come within the range of our civilization are treated are really 
