124 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS 
CHAP. 
same time be secure from either a side or rear 
attack. 
This places the seizing hounds in a dangerous 
position, as they are obliged to rush direct upon the 
boar’s tusks, unless they can manage to break 
through the barriers upon either side. Even then, 
they would be hampered in their attempts to get 
aw T ay from the quick and desperate lunge, which 
the boar * makes when least expected. All these 
difficulties have to be well considered, and the 
nature of the animal thoroughly understood. 
Every creature, whether human or of the lower 
creation, is born with certain gifts, excepting a few 
unfortunates, who appear to have been passed 
over. It is impossible to educate a man or an 
animal to be a first-rate performer in anything 
unless the nature is within. A thousand boys may 
be educated for the military profession with the 
same masters, and equal care bestowed upon their 
training, but how many will become distinguished 
generals ? Only those who have natural gifts. 
There will be many who become generals, but 
how many who become distinguished ? It is the 
same in everything. Take music, for an example. 
Every girl learns music in some horrible form or 
other, which is a misery to herself and an expense 
to her parents; a worry to her master, and an 
infliction upon her audience, when in ripening 
years she torments them with the results of musical 
education. On the other hand, a few are born 
musicians; they require but little care in early 
