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234 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
A WEEKLY JOURNAL, 
Devoted to Field and Aquatio Sports, PpAenoAL Natural H ibtort, 
Fiea Culture, this Protection op Game, Preservation or Forests, 
AXD TUB INCULCATION HM«K AND WOMEN OP A HEALTHY INTEREST 
IN OUT-DOOR IiE CREATION AND STUDY : 
PUBLISHED BT 
forest and £treatrj gublishinfl l&onyjatiQ, 
adopted laminated steel are only willing to warrant their 
guns standing the test for one season. For the wealthy 
classes of Great Britain, to whom the shooting is almost 
entirely confined, and who can replace their guns at will, 
it may answer, but for our people, who find most of their 
shooting on the Western prairies, such extravagance is not 
permitted. Time alone will decide whether the new sys- 
tem is to replace the old, and we believe that guns bored 
straight or nearly so, will, in the long run, find most favor 
with the majority of sportsmen. However the question 
may be finally determined, great credit is due to the Field 
for the spirit in which this trial was conceived, and the 
admirable manner ic which the details have been carried 
out. 
THE RELATIONS OF MAN TO THE UNI- 
VERSE. 
17 CHATHAM STREET. (CITY HALL SQUARE) NEW YORK, 
[Post Oppicb Box 2832.] 
Term., FIyb Dollar, a Year, Strictly In Adranc*. 
A discount of twenty percent, allowed for flvo copies and upwards. 
AdiertlslDR Hate. 
In regular advertising columns, nonpareil type. 12 linos to llio Inch, 2S 
conts per lino. Advertisements on ontslde page 10 cents per line. Reading 
notices, 50 cents per lino. Advertisements In double com inn 25 per cent, 
extra. Where advertisements are inserted over 1 month, a discount of 
10 per cent, will bo mode; over three months, 20 per cent; over six 
Booths, 30 per cent. 
NEW YORK, THURSDAY, .MAY 20, 1875. 
To Correspondents. 
All communications whatever, whether relating to business or literary 
Correspondence, must be addressed to The Forest and Stream Pub- 
lishing Company. Personal or private letters of course excepted. 
All communications Intended for publication must bo accompanied with 
real name, as agoaranty of good faith. Names will not bo published If 
objection bo mado. No anonymous contributions will be regarded. 
Articles relating to any topic within tho scope of tills paper aresollclted. 
We cannot promise to return rejected manuscripts. 
Secretaries of Clubs and Associations are urged to favor us with brief 
notes of their movements and transactions, os It Is tho aim of this paper 
to bocomo a medium of useful and reliable information between gentle- 
men sportsmen from one end of the country to tho other ; and they will 
Bud our columns a desirable medium for advertising announcements. 
Tho Publishers of Forest and Stream aim to merit and secure the 
patronage and countenance of that portion of the community whose re- 
fined intelligence enables them to properly appreciate and enjoy all that 
Is beautiful In Nature. It will pander to no depraved tastes, nor pervert 
the legltlmato sports of land and water to those base uses which always 
lend to make them unpopular with the vlrtnous and good. No advertise- 
ment or business notice of an Immoral character will be received on any 
terms ; and nothing will be admitted to any department of the paper that 
may not bo read with propriety in tho home circle. 
W« 'cannot be responsible for the dereliction of the mall service. If 
money remitted to os Is lost. 
Advertisements should bo sent in by Saturday of each week, If possible. 
CHARLES H ILLOCK, Editor. 
WILLIAM C. HARRIS, Business Manager. 
CALENDAR 
OF EVENTS FOR THE COM- 
ING WEEK. 
Thursday, May 20th.— Racing, Louisville, Ky,— Trotting, Fleetwood 
Park, N. Y ; Bishop's Park, Baltimore— Regatta, Delaware River- 
Base ball. Athletic vs. New Haven, New Haven. 
FniDAY. May 21st.— Racing, Louisville, Ky.— Fleetwood Park, N. Y.; 
Bishop’s Park. Baltimore— Base ball. Athletic vs Mutual, Philadelphia. 
Saturday, May 22d — Racing, Louisville, Ky -Yachting, Dorchester 
Yacht Club Pegattu— Athletics, Ilarvurd Athletic Association, Cam- 
bridge-Base ball. Athletic vs. Hartford, Philadelphia; Chicago vs. 81. 
Louis, Chicago, Keokuk vs. Red Stockings, St. Louis. 
Monday. May 21th.— Trotting, Springfield, III.; Woodstock Driving 
Park, Toronto-Yachtlng, Regatta at Philadelphia— Base ball, Philadel- 
phia vs, Hartford, Philadelphia. 
Tuesday, May 25th.— Racing, Baltimore Spring Meeting— Trotting, 
Springfield, III ; Goshen, N. Y.; Point Breeze Park, Philadelphia; 
Flqua, Oblo; Sedalta, Mo.— Base ball, Chicago vs. Red Stockings, Chi- 
cago; St Loots vs. Keokuk, St. Louis. 
Wednesday, May 26th.— Racing, Baltimore; Trotting, Goshen, N. Y.; 
Kenosha, Wit.; Big Rapids, Mich.; Springfield, IU.— Bose ball, Phila- 
delphia vs. Boston, Philadelphia. 
THE FIELD GUN TRIAL. 
U NDER its appropriate heading, and as being a subject 
of great importance to the sportsmen of this coun- 
try, we devote much of our space this week to a descrip- 
tion of the above trial and the comments thereon. Mr. 
Greener, as the winner, bus certainly substantiated bis 
claim to be the manufacturer of tbe closest shooting guns, 
but we would suggest patience and moderation to those 
who may fell inclined to rush into tbe new system which is 
likely to follow in the wake of this trial. Nor can we 
agree with the Field that if the “ wear and tear” test, as 
applied to the winning guns, Is successful, that "every 
sportsman must order a new gun or be hora du combat, 
both in the open and in battue shooting, os compared with 
those who are furnished with guns on the new system." 
For the average shot, in this country at least, extremely 
Close shooting guns are neither necessary or desirable. 
For shooting matches at pigeons, where only experts, as a 
rule, compete, and birds mu6t be killed within certain 
boundaries, they will be found of advantage, but for field 
work we imagine that iu the majority of instances birds 
would either be missed clean or so riddled with shot as to 
be worthless. The " wear and tear" will also be a serious 
consideration. It is admitted that the ordinary Damascus 
metal will not stand the strain caused by the "choking" 
or constriotion of the barrel, and the makers who have 
E VERY field of science, from biology to geography, is 
at present worked with a patience and perseverance 
that cannot he surpassed; for truth to those who love it 
possesses as many beauties as the paradise of Mohammed 
had for his followers, and they reach the goal of their 
aspirations when they find it. According to one of the 
most eminent of the delvers for truth, their purpose is not 
to dispute the principles of theology but to learu from na- 
ture herself, as far ns her teachings and suggestions will 
permit, what the composition of the universe is, how and 
for what ends it was created, and by what means the hap- 
piness of man can be increased. They are governed alone 
by a spirit of inquiry, which is the most marked charac- 
teristic of the age, and the unfailing indicator of the intel- 
lectual activity of the people. Their researches thus far 
have enabled them to learn the first with tolerable accu- 
racy, and to accomplish the third by means of inventions, 
studying the laws governing nature, the education of the 
masses, and the establishment of justice; but the second 
proposition they are yet unable to answer in a satisfactory 
manner. That it is not an accidental creation is evident, 
as it shows a purpose and laws immutable in their action, 
and that it could not have been a mere caprice, is also ap- 
parent; hcuce the dilemma from which the most astute 
scientists cunnot escape with even the most plausible theo- 
ries. Was the universe created for the pleasure of man 
alone? This proposition cannot be answered satisfactorily, 
inasmuch as the human biped is supposed to be known 
only to this planet, as the different conditions of soil, pro- 
ducts, light, and atmosphere in other planets could not 
sustuin him, at least in his present form and with his pres- 
ent wants. Does man inhabit other planets than thiB? 
This question must also remain unanswered until human 
knowledge enables it to overcome all the forces of nature, 
and to defy space. The supposition, however, that the 
man known to the earth cannot exist elsewhere, for the 
reasons specified, would seem to prove that the universe 
was not creuted for him alone, and that it has other pur- 
poses in view and other duties to perform besides making 
him master of all terrestrial matters, and bringing him to a 
millennial perfection. The discovery of the fact that life 
cannot be totally destroyed by even the most violent con- 
vulsions of nature, and that it springs into activity when 
permitted, and readily adapts itself to the metamorphosed 
conditions of the elements, would seem to support this 
theory in the minds of some scientists, find, therefore, to 
make the problem as unsolvahle as ever. It has also been 
learned that every epoch produces its own variety of ani- 
mals, and that they die or become supplanted by others 
which differ totally from them, although bearing a generic 
resemblance, and that man is subject to the same transfor- 
mations, though not to the same extent in bodily form, as 
made evident by the different races; hence to learn the 
purpose and importance of man in the economy of crea- 
tion is n jw the subject of mental microscopic analysis of 
several European societies. The latest announced result of 
the decision of one of the investigators, at least, is that the 
planets are subject to violent changes, owing to disturbing 
causes; that by these changes they alter their physical and 
atmospherical condition, and that the new plant and ani- 
mal life that springs up subsequently is adapted to the 
metamorphoses, and progresses gradually from a low to a 
higher order; that man being subject to the same influ- 
ences as all other created things, is affected by these muta- 
tions and, as a natural result, that he differs in form and 
character in the various epochs or periods of the world’s 
existence. Arguing on this hypothesis he attempts to prove 
that the same transformations will occur again, and that 
the present racos will differ from those of{the future. From 
this premiss we cun easily draw the deduction that while 
mau may play monarch of creation, yet the universe is not 
formed for his special pleasure. If this is the result of 
biological investigatlou we do not see that science has 
brought us any consolation in that direction; that it lms 
increased our hope, made brighter our anticipations, or, in 
fact, accomplished anything but to prove that we are of 
little value, after all, in the scale of creation; that our 
wishes are never consulted, and that we are neither like 
angels nor gods. 
THE STATE BENCH SHOW. 
T HE meeting of the " State Association for the Pro- 
tection of Game and Fish" will bo held at Watertown, 
commencing on Monday, May 31st. At the same time 
the bench show will be held. Tho programme has been 
arranged, aud is ready for distribution. There are ten 
clusses, arranged in the following manner: Red Irish set- 
ters; Field Triul and Laveracks, including all breeds other 
than red Irish and black and tan setters; black and tan set- 
ters; pointers, large; pointers, small; cocker spaniels, fox 
hounds, dachshunds, and beagles. Class 10 is the cham- 
pion class. Iu it are three prizes for the best setter whelp, 
the best all aged setter of any breed or either sex, and for 
the best pointer of any age, large or small, dog or bitch. 
In each of the other classes there are a first and second 
prize for the two best dogs and bitches. The prizes are 
doubtless the most valuable yet offered at any bench show, 
and will, it is surmised, have the effect of bringing 
together a very large number of the best dogs, both 
native and imported, owned in the United Stutes and 
Canada. 
The prizes are the Forest and Stream cup, the Turf , 
Field and Farm solid gold medal, worth $75; four solid gold 
dog whistles, worth $40 each; two handsome solid silver 
cups, worth $G0 each, one of which is donated by the 
Latlin & Rand Powder Company; two solid gold 
medals, donated by J. D. Dougall and W. & J. Tolley; a 
fine Parker gun; an elegantly-engraved silver plated and 
gilt Remiugton revolver, with mother of pearl handle, and 
six solid silver cups, worth $25 each, and the same number 
of solid silver collars. 
The railroad company from Rome to Watertown will 
transport all dogs for the show free, and Mohawk, who has 
charge of the affair, is in hopes of getting Mr. Vanderbilt 
to do the same on the Hudson River and New York Cen- 
tral Roads to Rome. 
The Luxury of Prairie Traveling. — Our correspond- 
ent "Bison," whose sketches of wild Western life have so 
often entertained the readers of Forest and Stream, is 
an officer of the United States Eleventh Cavalry. He is 
about to be absent from duty on sick leave, aud has mapped 
out a Summer journey for his health as follows, lie 
writes : 
" I am going to New Mexico via the wholo"of Texas, or 
via Forts Griffin, Concho, Stockton, Davis, Quitman, and 
El Paso, and then up through New Mexico via Forts Sel- 
den, McRae, Craig, Stanton, Sante Fe, Union, and then, I 
think, to Fort Garland, Colorado, to Denver, and East." 
It may be well to mention how our friend proposes to 
travel, not only for the interest of the general reader, but 
to demonstrate the practicability of the route of the " Big 
Hunt " proposed by Col. McCarty, which is utmost identi- 
cal with this, and about which so much cavil has been 
made. He says: " The trip I have laid out for myself is 
1,600 miles by land. I shall go in mg own carriage, prob- 
ably taking my wife with me, and pass from post to post, 
taking advantage of wagon trains for safety. Two com- 
panies of troops go from here [Fort Sill] to Fort Davis, 000 
miles, and we will travel together that^far." 
Col. McCarty, to whom we have incidentally referred, 
has been in Texas for some time past in company with sev- 
eral Englishmen, who recently came over with him to 
verify his statements, and to assure themselves of the prac- 
ticability of the proposed expedition, and the integrity and 
good faith of its projector. The Texas papers that we 
have seen speak favorably of the whole movement. Mc- 
Carty will soon leturn to England, and t the company will 
probably reach America about July 1st. 
—Tbe editor of this jouraul takes this occasion to pub- 
licly thank the “Rod and Gun Club," of Springfield, 
Mass., for their courtesy in making him an honorary mem- 
ber. Success to this club, say we. May a trigger never 
be drawn in vain by one of its members, or a single bird 
be shot out of season, or double birds either. 
— Capt. Bogardus gives a public exhibition of his skill in 
shooting pigeons at Deerfoot Park, L. I., on Monday, 24th. 
The Rainbow and the Pot of Gold.— What is that 
beautiful allegory that we all used to hear when we were 
children, that, if we could reach the end of the rainbow, 
we should find there a pot of gold? How the illusion van- 
ished as we sped on in its pursuit! and how the promise 
failed at last! We have been taught that this is the expe. 
rience of human life, and moral lessons have been read 
upon the fallacy of great expectations; but we have at lost 
found a person— yea, an angler— who has actually suc- 
ceeded in reaching the end of the rainbow, the abutment' 
of the glorious arc, and found there a pot of gold! not a 
veritable pot of tho yellow ore, hut that which possessed 
the intrinsic value of the precious metal. It happened in 
this wise, and the incident is told in a pleasant private 
letter by a correspondent who has frequently entertained 
our readers with sketches of wild wood life. We quote: 
"lam glad your bow of promise is bright, and hope the 
‘pot of gold’ is awaiting you. I, too, once found it. I 
was standing on the edge of a lake casting for black bass. 
The rain, which was pouring, drenched me. Of a sudden 
the water seemed a combination of all the most beautiful 
colors, and drops innumerable were dancing at my feet, 
each separate drop resplendent with color. I was literally 
standing at the foot of a gorgeous rainbow. Each cast 
brought one or two ravenous mouths at my flies, which no 
sooner touched the water than they disappeared, aud my 
line played Aeolian airs as it went whizzing through the 
water. It was a ‘ pot of gold.’ I have never seen a rain- 
bow since but what fancy carried me back to that lake 
ah ore." 
Lake Conchiching, Muskoka.— We call attention, with- 
out request, to the adveftisement in this journal of the 
Conchiching Hotel, which we consider the most attractive 
family Summer resort in Canada. Its varied means of en- 
joyment have contributed to some of our happiest leisuro 
hours. 
