266 
FOREST AND STREAM. 


says an authority in Roman fox hunting: ‘‘Italian horses 
are not worth a copper. Bring a big, heavy, strong animal, 
for Roman fences are good solid timber, posts and rails. It 
don’t make much consequence what you pay for your 
horses, for though you will want two of them, you can sell 
them again. Roman Princes think nothing of giving a 
paltry £400 for a hunter. : 
—At last they have got a good sensation in England. 
Tired, blaséd of excitements in the United States, we have 
deigned to allow our own particular sea-serpent to pay them 
a visit. Mr. Barnum now being in England may account 
for the veritable presence there. Young ladies on the pleas- 
ant England sea shores have seen him through their lorg- 
nettes, and he, the veritable sarpent, is so positive a fact now 
that a picture has been made of him. Mr. Frank Buckland 
and Mr. Henry Lee, we may suppose, are now on the qui 
vive, delirious with excitement, and Mr. W. Saville Kent 
may have intentions of enlarging the Brighton aquarium or 
of converting the whole of the Crystal Palace into a fitting 
receptacle for the sea serpent. We regret to state, how- 
ever, that our serpent has very much shrunken as to size. 
One gentleman saw him only fifty feet long, and raising 
his head four teet above the water. While another person 
declared him to be eight feet long. For our own particu- 
lar American sea serpent to have gone and deliberately 
shortened himself is a shameful act, and a slur on the coun- 
try of his nativity, for itis perfectly apparent to every one 
that this pet Saurian has the power of making himself any 
size the spectator wishes him to be. 
—Though the adulteration of food hardly comes under a 
review of foreign sporting news, we cannot help but being 
amused at the row it is making in England. Here in the 
United States with our free and enlightened Republican 
feelings, we have learnt to grin and bear most anything; in 
monarchial England, however, they fret and fume and 
grumble, and end by not standing it. Most of our readers 
are no doubt familiar with the story of the quarrelsome man 
in the coffee house, who on seeing a gentleman eat his slice 
of cold beef without mustard insisted that he should use 
that condiment, and ended by saying, ‘‘What, no mustard 
with your beef? Confound it sir, you shall eat mustard.” 
To-day the man fond of mustard would have had to put it 
in another guise, somewhat like this: ‘‘Confound it, sir, you 
shall eat a mixture of bean flour, tumeric, ginger, and tinc- 
ture of catharides with your beef.” Land and Water puts it 
amusingly this way: 
Settling down to housekeeping, we refresh ourselves each 
morning with a decoction of Maloo mixture and steel fil- 
ings, sweetened with sand, and we assuage our appetite with 
alumed bread, larded butter, fresh eggs from Kamtschatka, 
and ox tails not unacquainted with omnibus life, whilst on 
our return home in the evening, we partake of Dartmour 
mutton from Northamptonshire, sanctify it with a bottle of 
petroleum champagne and some Hamburgh sherry, and top 
off with Swiss cheese from Ayrshire and a glass of port 
from any hedge. Then determined on enjoyment, we kick 
off our brown paper boots, light a delicious Houndstiich 
Havana, loll back in an armchair covered with imitation 
morocco and stuffed with ash-pit pickings, warm our shod- 
dy-covered legs at u brisk slate fire, mix a tumbler of me- 
thylated spirits called whiskey. Next day we are ill; the 
doctor, shamming interest in our case, writes a prescrip- 
tion in sham Latin; the chemist dispenses it in diluted 
drugs; the family lawyer, pretending pity, writes our will 
in sham English phraseology to increase his charges; 
and just when our sham gold repeater, warranted to last 
for fifty years, stops, we stop too, and end with these shams 
of life. Then amidst the gloomy faces of expectant heirs, 
our shoddy-velvet-covered coffin, studded with lacqued 
nails, is borne away by dyed horses proudly bearing sham 
ostrich plumes, false manes, and fictitious tails, whilst hired 
mourners lengthen out their funeral faces at so much per 
inch, and cheat at that. 
—The French Geographical Society have awarded the 
following amounts to various travelers: To M. Dournaux- 
Dupéré, who has started for Timbuctoo, 2,000 francs. To 
M. Francis Garnier, for explorations of the Blue River in 
China and the Yun-nan in Thibet, 2,000 francs, and to 
Messrs. Marche and Compiegne, who are to go to Africa 
after Dr. Livingstone, 1,500 francs. 
—The Japanese government have passed a law forbid- 
ding dog fighting. We shall have to go to Japan some of 
these days in search of a higher civilization. We are per- 
fectly aware that laws somewhat of the same character are 
supposed to exist in the United States, but brutal contests 
with dogs, the animals themselves being wothing like as 
vicious as the degraded spectators who attend such hor- 
rible fights, are of constant occurrence. We may enact 
laws in this country, just as in Japan, but it is doubtful 
whether we can carry them out as thoroughly as they do 
there. 


—A new cereal has heen grown in Oregon which has puz- 
zled the farmers, as it is unlike any grain with which they 
‘are familiar. From seven to ten stalks grow from one root 
to a height of about four feet, and these stalks, or straws, 
are thin and hard. The radicals are tough and spread 
widely. The heads are six inches in length and covered 
with a heavy beard, each filament being five inches long, 
The grain is double the length of a kernel of wheat, and, 
instead of being firm and compact, is hollow, the cavity 
containing glutinous matter. While the grain bears a closer 
resemblance to wheat than to anything else, the straw looks 
more like that of rye or barley. Its origin is somewhat 
peculiar, the first grain having been taken from the stomach 
of a wild goose by a farmer in Tillamook county nearly 
three years ago. He was struck with its appearance, and 
planted it, and the succeeding season sowed the product. 
He distributed a portion of the second crop among a few 
friends in different parts of the State, who this year raised 
small quantities. It will require another year to determine 
the value of the grain: 
t 


Rational Pastimes. 
Se" Secretaries of University and College Athletic Clubs will please mai 
their reports not later than Monday in each week. 


THE SCOTTISCH GAMES. 
The Second Annual Handicap of several members of the 
New York Caledonian Club took place on the track of the 
New York Athletic Club, 180th street, Harlem, on Thurs- 
day, Noy. 27th. Now that Jones’ Wood is being cut up 
into building lots, the committee of the New York Caledo- 
nian Club will find it no easy matter to lease grounds suf- 
ficiently large and within easy distance of the city, to ac- 
commodate the thousands that annually come from all parts 
of the Union to witness these noble pastimes. The games 
commenced at 10:15 A. M., uncer the superintendence of 
the committee, A. Coway, C. G. Nicholson (Secretary), 
and D. A. Thomson, assisted by members of the New 
York Athletic Club. The first in order was throwing the 
light hammer, weighing 14 pounds. Eleven competitors 
entered, Andrew Rennie casting the hammer 99 feet, which 
was the best throw; George Goldie second, he was handi- 
capped 5 feet and tossed the hammer 88 feet. The 100 
yard race was opened to members of the New York Ath- 
letic Club. There were 21 competitors, 5 of which were 
members of the N. Y. A. C. Four heats were run, M. E. 
Burris of the Athletic Club winning the first, William Mc- 
Kune of the Caledonian, the second, Samuel Strasburger 
of the Athletics the third, and Andrew Rennie of the Cale- 
donians the fourth. McKune then came in first and Rennie 
second. There were five entries for the running high leap, 
and the match was won by Joseph Edington, who received 
six inches, Andrew Rennie being second. The next con- 
test was in putting the heavy stone, which weighed 21 
pounds. There were seven contestants; John Tasker won 
at 29 feet 10 inches, John McMillan being second. 
There were four entries for vaulting with the pole. M. 
E. More, who received 21 inches, won, Francis Duke, who 
received 12 inches, being second. The quarter-mile race 
was centested by 12 members, and was won by John Dow- 
nie, who received five yards, Colonel Carmichael, who 
started on the scratch, being second. There were six en- 
tries in the contest at throwing the 56 pound weight. John 
McMillin threw it 19 feet 9 inches and won, John Tasker 
being second. 
The boys’ race of 815 yards had five entries. James 
Campbell, the oldest looking boy, won the match, Thomas 
Grassick being second. The one mile walk was open to 
the members of the Athletic Club, by whom both the first 
and second honors were carried off, W. H. Stafford and 
Daniel Stein winning. There were six entries, four of 
whom were Caledonians. The one-mile race had six com- 
petitors; John Downie was winner and William Par- 
ker second. 
A game of foot-ball closed the sports. The following are 
the details of the games, and the distances are with handi- 
cap included: 
THROWING THE LIGHT HAMMER. 
Andrew Rennie, ist prize, 99 feet, scratch. 
George Goldie, 2d prize, 95 feet 4 inches, allowed 5 feet. 
100 YARDS RACE. 
(Open to Athletic Club) in heats. 
William McKune 1st prize, allowed 10 yards. 
Andrew Rennie 2d prize, allowed 4 yards. \ 
RUNNING HIGH LEAP. 
Joseph Edington 1st prize, 5 feet 1 inch,allowed 6 inches. 
Alexander Tasker 2d prize, 5 feet, allowed 6 inches. 
FINAL HEAT OF 100 YARDS RACE, AS ABOVE. 
PUTTING THE HEAVY STONE. 
John Tasker, Ist prize, 30 feet 10 inches, allowed 12 in. 
John McMillan, 2d prize, 30 feet 4 inches, allowed 12 in. 
F VAULTING WITH THE POLE. 
M. E. More 1st prize, 9 feet 6 inches, allowed 21 inches. 
Francis Duke 2d prize, 9 feet, allowed 12 inches. 
QUARTER MILE RACE. 
John Downie Ist prize, allowed 5 yards. 
William McKune 2d prize, allowed 20 yards. 
» THROWING 66 POUND WEIGHT. 
John McMillan 1st prize, 20 feet, allowed 3 inches. 
John Tasker 2d prize, 19 feet, allowed 3 inches. 
BOYS’ RACE. 
315 yards. (Member’s sons, not over 15 years.) 
James Campbell 1st prize, allowed 10 yards. 
George Grassick 2d prize, allowed 15 yards. 
ONE MILE WALK. 
(Open to Athletic Club.) 
‘Daniel Stein Ist prize, allowed 60 yards. 
Thomas McEwen 2d prize, allowed 90 yards. 
ONE MILE RACE. 
John Downie 1st prize, scratch. 
William Parker 2d prize, allowed 75 yards. 
—One of the Assistant Librarians of the Congressional 
Library, Washington, D. C., accompanied by a member 
of the Sritish Legation, walked and ran for amusement and 
recreation from Washington to Baltimore, a distance of 
thirty-seven miles,in seven hoursandahalf. The first nine- 
teen miles, from Washington to Annapolis Junction, they 
accomplished in the short time of three hours and a quarter. 
—A* Deerfoot Park, Coney Island Road, N. York, on 
Nov. 27th, Samuel Jones, of Greenpoint, and Samuel 
Abrams ran 100 yard heats, which was won by the former 
in two heats. 
—Three of the Boston Base-ball nine received salaries 
during the past season of $1,800 each; one $1,500; the 
others $1,400, $1,200, $800, and $500 each, and Addy was 
paid at the rate of $75 per month dtiring his engagement* 

dituré of about $800,000 more to prepare it for traffic, 
SS SA LL “I0 
Eprtor Forrest anp STREAM :— 
The Foot-ball 20 of the Stevens’ Institute Athletic Asso- 
ciation played a match game on Thanksgiving Day with an 
amateur 20 at Ridgewood, N. J. On account of the short- 
ness of the day and severity of the weather, but two in- 
nings were played, and as these were won by the Institute 
men the victory was adjudged to them. The victors were 
then provided with a generous dinner, which warmed their 
souls and prompted speeches from all hands The boys 
returned Jate in the afternoon, well satisfied with the day’s 
sport. ACA. Gs 
Str. Lours, Mo., Dec. Ist. 
—In March of the present year, cricket was dead through- 
out the West. It is true at the Racine College, Wis. the 
game had for years been practised by some of the students, 
and that at a few country places, such as Sasser, Wis., and 
Decorah, Iowa, the skeleton of cricket clubs were said to 
exist, and at Detroit, Mich. a club yclept the Peninsula was 
believed to be flourishing, but withal cricket gave no sign 
of that life which manifests itself in action. No matches 
had been played the previous year, and no challenges were 
out for the coming season. In the month referred to a 
gentleman of St. Louis, named P. Adair, in the columns of 
The Globe of that city, suggested the formation of a cricket 
club; his communication called forth others, the vesult of 
which was a meeting of cricketers on the 12th of March, 
and the formation of the St. Louis Cricket Club, with 
officers as follows: 
President, Hon. Thomas Allen, proprietor of the St. 
Louis & Iron Mountain Railroad, one of the Alumni of 
Union College and a munificent benefactor in the cause of 
education ; vice president, W. B. Davenport, Hon. secretary, 
Harry E. Sharpe, (also a menber of the Toronto Club of 
Canada); executive committee, Cyrus Day, M. D., E. H. 
Lycett, (also of the Marion Club), J. W. Jeffries, S. L. 
Southard, (also of the Trenton Club), and F. M. Caddick. 
Four years ago St. Louis had nourished in its maternal em- 
brace several cricket clubs, two of which were named 
respectively the ‘‘Saint Louis” and the “Jackson,” flour- 
ished for a time, but died at last from want of extra-mural 
opposition. On the organization of the new St. Louis 
Club, the old Jacksonites held aloof and attempted to revive 
their club, but in vain. They met and elected officers, and 
were challenged by the St. Louis, but could not place 
eleven men in the field. The St. Louis ‘‘braves” could no- 
where find the trail of an enemy; practice was becoming 
monotonous; inamoment of frenzy the chairman of the ex- 
ecutive committee, Dr. Cyrus Day, published a challenge 
through the medium of the daily papers, to any outside 
eleven or to any twenty-two of St. Louis. 
St. Georges’ day was near at hand and on it according to 
their custom the St. Georges’ Society were to enjoy « pic- 
nic; their manager conceived the idea of adding to the at- 
tractions of the pic-nic, an exhibition of old England’s noble 
game. With Anglo-Saxon pluck and pride they dared St. 
Louis to even combat, and were defeated by only fourteen 
runs. Elated by their unlooked for success (they expected 
to be beaten in one inning,) the St. Georges’ men set to 
work there and then to collect names and donations for 
“The Saint Georges’ Cricket Club.” $500 and a score of 
names was the result of half an hour’s work, assured the 
organization of another club and delighted the hearts of the 
St. Louismen. A match was at the same time arranged to be 
played within a month, which resulted in another defeat o 
St. George, this time by twenty-four runs. A third match 
was played in August, when the St. George won in one 
inning with many runs to spare, their success being attri- 
butable to the magnificent batting of Temple, Dale, and 
Richardson, the two latter being new men. This last 
match demonstrated the fact that St. Louis contained 
cricket talent, good enough, if united, to show a bold front 
to outsiders. The St. Louis Club at their next meeting 
sent a message to the St. Georges’ Club, suggesting the 
formation of a united club, to be composed of members of 
both clubs, with a view to sending an eleven on a tour 
through Canada, and East, and generally to promote the 
interest of cricket in the West. The suggestion met with 
a hearty response; delegates from the two clubs met and 
elected as officers of the united club; president, Joseph 
Branch, also president of the St. Georges’ Society, and pres- 
ident of The St. Georges’ Cricket Club, an English gentle- 
man, (well known in St. Louis for his liberality in every 
good cause, and as a John Bull,) every inch of him; vice 
president, Harry E. Sharpe; secretary, Ben Williams; treas- 
urer, Cyrus Day, M. D.; councilmen, W. B. Davenport, 
T. M. Caddick, Hy. Temple, and A. ©. Bagshave. The 
doings of the united club belong to another place; this little 
record treats only of the modest St. Louis Club, and little 
more remains to be said. The St. Louis challenged the 
Dragons to‘another encounter on the 7th of October, to 
finish up the season, but being unable to bring out an eleven 
that could win, they chose not to risk defeat. To the St. 
Louis Club rightfully belongs the credit of the revival 
of cricket in the West. Clubs have now been formed at 
Chicago and Cincinnati; Racine and Detroit are anxious to 
bear a hand in the fray, so that next season promises to be 
a lively one. CR Sea 



—The Hoosac tunnel in Massachusetts, which at last has 
been bored completely through the mountain, though not 
yet completed for use, is five miles long. It was begun in 
1857, sixteen years ago.~ Its estimated cost was $3,350,000, 
and a contract was made to excavate the tunnel and builda 
double track railroad through it for that sum. In reality it 
has already cost $12,300,000, and it will require the expen- 
~ 
s 


