第11章

atoncesolovinglyseductiveandharshlycompelling——

bywhichChinesepoetsandlovershaverevealedtheirthoughtsandwontheirquestforcenturies。Thestirringtom-tom，ifnottheragtimewhichsetstheoccidentalcaperingto-day，wascommontotheChinesethreeorfourhundredyearsago。

TheyhearditfromthewildTartarsandMongols——hearditandrejectedit，becauseitwasprimitive，untamed，andnottobecomparedwiththeirowncarefullycontrolledmelodies。Mr。EmersonWhithorne，thefamousBritishcomposer，whoisanauthorityonorientalmusic，madethisstatementtotheLondonmusicloverslastweek:

"`ThepopularityofChinesemusicisstillinitschildhood。

Fromnowonitwillgrowrapidly。Chinesemusichasnoliterature，asweunderstandthatterm，butnonecansaythatithasnotmostcaptivatingmelodies。Totheartistictemperament，inparticular，itappealsenormously，andwell-knownartists——musicians，painters，andsoon——saythatitaffectstheminquiteanextraordinaryway。""

Chinesemusicfromanoccidentalstandpointhasbeenunjustlydescribedas"clashingcymbals，twangingguitars，harshflageolets，andshrillflutes，ear-splittingandheadache-producingtotheforeigner。"

Suchgeneralcondemnationshowsdeplorableignorance。*

ThewriterhadapparentlyneverattendedanofficialserviceinhonorofConfucius，heldbienniallyduringthewholeoftheChingdynastyat3A。M。The"stonechimes"，consistingofsonorousstonesvaryingintoneandhanginginframes，whichwereplayedonthosesolemnoccasions，haveahauntingmelodysuchascanbeheardnowhereelse。

China，Ibelieve，istheonlycountrythathasproducedmusicfromstones。

ItisnaturallygratifyingtometohearthatChineseairsarenowhavingavogueinLondon，andthattheywillsoonbeheardinNewYork。

ItwilltakesomelittletimeforWesternerstolearntolistenintelligentlytoourmelodieswhich，beingalwaysinunison，inonekeyandinonemovement，areaptatfirsttosoundaswearisomeandmonotonousasMadamePatti"scomplicatednotesdidtome，butwhentheyunderstandthemtheywillhavefoundanewdelightinlife——

*WuTingfangisquitecorrecttodeplorethisstatementasadescriptionofChinesemusic。However，inallfairness，itisanaccuratedescriptionofhowaWesternearfirsthearsCERTAINtypesofChinesemusic。

Aftersuccessivehearingsthisimpressionwillflyaway，butuntilthenCERTAINtypesarereminiscentoftwoalley-catsfightinginagarbagecan。

Thisisnotmeantasadegradingcomment，anymoresothanWuTingfang"scommentsonopera。Somemusicisanacquiredtaste，andafteracquirement，itsbeautybecomesnotonlyrecognizablebutinescapable。

CertainothertypesofChinesemusiccaneasilybeappreciatedonthefirsthearing——A。R。L。，1996——

AlthoughweChinesedonotdivideourplaysintocomediesandtragediesthereisfrequentlyagooddealofhumorontheChinesestage；yetwehavenothinginChinacorrespondingtothepopularmusicalcomedyoftheWest。

Amusicalcomedyisreallyaseriesofvaudevilleperformancesstrungtogetherbythefeeblestofplots。Theessenceseemstobecatchysongs，prettydances，andcomicdialogue。Theplotisapparentlyimmaterial，itsonlyexcuseforexistencebeingtogiveacertainorderofsequencetotheaforesaidsongs，dances，anddialogues。That，indeed，istheonlyobjectfortheplaywright"sintroducinganyplotatall，hencehedoesnotmuchcarewhetheritislogicalorevenwithintheboundsofprobability。Theplay-goers，Ithink，careevenless。

Theygotohearthesongs，seethedances，laughatthedialogues，andindulgeinfrivolousfrivolities；whatdotheywantwithaplot，muchlessamoral？ChinesevaudevilletakestheformofclevertumblingtrickswhichIthinkaremuchpreferabletothesensuous，curious，andself-revealingdancesoneseesintheWest。

Althoughmusicalcomedy，or，moreproperlyspeaking，musicalfarce，isbecomingmoreandmorepopularinbothEuropeandAmericaitisalsobecomingproportionatelymorefarcical；althoughinmanytheatersitisstagedasoftenasthemoreseriousdrama，insomehavingexclusivedominion；andalthoughtheatermanagersfindthattheseplaysdrawbiggercrowdsandfilltheirhousesbetterthananyother，inthelargecitiesrunningforoverayear，Icannothelpregardingthisfeatureoftheatricallifeassomuchtheatricalchaos。

Itlacksculture，andissometimesbothbizarreandneurotic。

Idonotobjecttopatter，smartgiveandtake，inwhichthecomicalanglesoflifeareexposed，ifitisbrilliant；neitherhaveIanythingtosayagainstlightcomedyinwhichtheridiculoussideofthingsisportrayed。

Thissortofentertainmentmayhelpmenwhohavespentabusyday，crowdedwithanxiousmoments，andweightedwithseriousresponsibilities，butexhibitionswhichmakemenontheirwayhometalknotofart，orofmusic，orofwit，butof"thelittlegirlwhoworealittleblacknet"

aredistinctlytobecondemned。Eventheclasswhothinkitwasteoftimetothink，andwhogotothetheateronlyto"laughawfully"，arenothelpedbythissortofentertainment。Suchsongsasthefollowing，whichIhaveculledfromthe`PlayPictorial"，amonthlypublishedinLondon，mustintimepallthetasteofeventheshallow-minded。

"Can"tyouspareaglance？

Havewegotachance？

You"vegotaknowingpairofeyes；

Whenit"s2to1

Itisn"tmuchfun，"

Thisiswhatshesoonreplies:

"Oh，won"tyoubuyarace-card，Andtakeatipfromme？

Ifyouwanttofindawinner，It"seasyascanbeWhentheCupidstakesarestarting，Yourheadsareallawhirl，Andmytipto-dayIsabiteachwayOntherace-cardgirl。"

Yetthis，apparently，isthesortofthingwhichappealstothemodernAmericanwhowantsamusementofthelightestkind，amusementwhichappealstotheeyeandearwiththelightestpossibletaxonhisalreadyover-burdenedbrain。Hecertainlycannotcomplainthathiswisheshavenotbeenfaithfullyfulfilled。ItmaybeduetomyignoranceofEnglish，butthesongIhavejustquotedseemstomesilly，andIdonotthinkany"ragtimemusic"couldmakeitworthsinging。

Ofcoursemanysongsandplaysinthemusichallsaresuchasaffordinnocentmirth，butithastobeconfessedthatthereareotherthingsofadifferenttypewhichitisnotwiseforrespectablefamiliestotaketheyoungtosee。

IwouldnotliketosayallIthinkofthisfeatureofWesterncivilization，butImayquoteanEnglishmanwithoutgivingoffense。Writinginthe`MetropolitanMagazine"，LouisSherwinsays:"Thereisnotadoubtthattheso-called`high-browdancer"hashadalottodowiththebare-leggedepidemicthatragesuponthecomic-operastageto-day。

NothingcouldbefurtherremovedfrommusicalcomedythantheartofsuchwomenasIsadoraDuncanandMaudeAllen。ToinformMissDuncanthatshehasbeenthemeansofmakingnuditypopularinmusicalfarcewouldbeyondquestionincurthelady"sveryreasonablewrath。

Butitisnonethelesstrue。Whenthebare-leggedclassicdancermadeherappearanceinoperahouses，andonconcertplatformswithsymphonyorchestras，itwasthecueforeverychorusgirlwithanambitiontoundressinpublic。FirstofallwehadaplagueofSalomes。Thenthemusicalcomedyproducers，followingtheirusualcustomofreligiouslyavoidinganythingoriginal，begantosendtheponyballetsandsoubrettesonthestageswithouttheirhosieryandwiththeirkneescladinnothingbutacoatofwhitewash(sometimestheyevenforgottoputonthewhitewash，andthenthesightwashorrible)。Thehumanformdivine，withfewexceptions，isadevilishspectacleunlessitisproperlymadeup。

Sometwentyyearsfromnowmanagerswilldiscoverwhataudiencesfoundoutmonthsago，thatachorusgirl"sbarelegisinfinitelylessbeautifulthanthesamelegwhendulydisguisedbypetticoatsandthings。"

Chapter16。ConjuringandCircusesAfterwhatIhavesaidastothepositionoftheactorinChinamyreaderswillnotbesurprisedatmysayingthattheperformanceofaconjurorshouldnotbeencouraged。Whatpleasurecantherebeinbeingtricked？

Itmaybeagreatdisplayofdexteritytoturnwaterintowine，toseemtocutoffaperson"shead，toappeartoswallowswords，toescapefromlockedhandcuffs，andtoperformthevariouscabinettricks，butclevernessdoesnotalterthefactthatafterallitisonlydeceptioncunninglycontrivedandperformedinsuchawayastoevadediscovery。

Itappearsrighttomanybecauseitiscalled"legerdemain"and"conjuring"

butinrealityitisexactlythesamethingasthatbywhichthesuccessfulcard-sharperstripshisvictims，viz。，suchquicknessofhandthattheeyeisdeceived。Shouldweencouragesuchartfuldevices？

Historytellsmanystoriesastothewayinwhichpeoplehavebeenkeptinsuperstitiousbondagebyillusionsandmagic，andifitbenowheldtoberighttodeceiveforfunhowcanitbeheldtohavebeenwrongtodeceiveforreligion？

Thosewhomadethepeoplebelievethroughpractisingdeceptiondoubtlessbelievedthetricktobelessharmfulthanunbelief。Icontend，therefore，thatpeoplewhogotoseeconjuringperformancesderivenogoodfromthem，butthat，onthecontrary，theyareapttobeimpressedwiththeideathattopractisedeceptionistoshowpraiseworthyskill。

Itisstrangehowmanypeoplepaymoneytootherstodeceivethem。

Morethaneverbefore，peopleto-dayactuallyenjoybeingcheated。

Ifthetrickswereclumsilydevisedandeasilydetectedtherewouldbenoattraction，buttheclevererandmorepuzzlingthetrickthemoreeagerlypeopleflocktoseeit。

Christianpreachersandmoralistscoulddowelltotakeupthismatteranddiscouragepeoplefromfrequentingtheexhibitionsoftricksters。

Therearedoubtlessmanylawsinnatureyetundiscovered，andafewpersonsundoubtedlypossessabnormalpowers。Thismakesthecultivationoftheloveoftrickerythemoredangerous。Itpreventsthetruthfrombeingperceived。Itenablescharlatanstofinddupes，andcausestherealmagiciantobeapplaudedasalegerdemainist。

ThisiswhattheNewTestamenttellsushappenedinthecaseofJesusChrist。

Hismiraclesfailedtoconvincebecausethepeoplehadforalongtimelovedthosewhocoulddeceivethemcleverly。*Thepeoplesaidtohim，"Thouhastadevil，"andotherswarnedthemafterhisdeathsaying，"Thatdeceiversaidwhilehewasyetalive`AfterthreedaysIwillriseagain。""Whenpeoplearetaughtnotonlytomarvelatthemarvelousbuttobeindifferenttoitsfalsehoodstheylosethepowerofdiscrimination，andareapttotakethetrueforthefalse，therealfortheunreal——

*Thisisaratherunorthodoxview，butnonethelessinteresting，especiallyasitpertainstohisfollowingstatements——A。R。L。，1996——

Foranevening"shealthyenjoymentIbelieveacircusisasgoodaplaceascanbefoundanywhere。Theairthereisnotcloseandvitiatedasinatheater；youcanspendtwoorthreehourscomfortablywithoutinhalingnoxiousatmospheres。Itisinterestingtonotethatthecircusisperhapstheonlyformofanciententertainmentwhichhasretainedsomethingofitspristinesimplicity。

To-day，asintheoldRomancircuses，tiersofseatsrunroundthecourse，whichinthelargercircusesisstillintheformofanellipse，withitsverticalaxis，wherethehorsesandperformersenter，cutaway。

ButthemodernworldhasnothinginthisconnectiontocomparewiththeCircusMaximusofRome，which，accordingtoPliny，heldaquarterofamillionspectators。Itissingular，however，thatwhiletheoldRomancircuseswereheldinpermanentbuildings，moderncircusesaremostlytravellingexhibitionsintemporaryerections。

Insomerespectstheentertainmentofferedhasdegeneratedwiththechange，forwehaveto-daynothinginthecircustocorrespondtothethrillingchariotracesinwhichtheoldRomansdelighted。

Iwonderthatinthesedaysofrestlesssearchfornoveltiessomeonedoesnotre-introducetheRomanchariotraceundertheoldconditions，andwithareproductionoftheoldsurroundings。Itwouldbeasinterestingandasexcitingas，andcertainlylessdangerousthan，poloplayedinautomobiles，whichIunderstandisoneofthelatestfadsintheWest。Amodernhorse-race，withitsskill，daringandpicturesqueness，istheonlymodernentertainmentcomparabletothegorgeousracesoftheRomans。

Theexhibitionofskillfulfeatsofhorsemanshipandacrobaticdisplaysbyjuvenileactors，rope-dancing，highvaultingandotherdaringgymnasticfeatsseeninanyofourpresent-daycircusesareinteresting，butnotnew。TheRomanshadmanyclevertight-ropewalkers，andIdonotthinktheyusedthelongpoleloadedattheendstoenablethemtomaintaintheirequilibrium，asdosomelaterperformers。

Japanesetumblersareverypopularandsomeoftheirtricksclever，butIthinktheWesternpublicwouldfindChineseacrobatsapleasantdiversion。Withpractice，itwouldseemasifwhentakeninhandduringitssuppleyearsthereisnothingthatcannotbedonewiththehumanbody。Sometimesitalmostappearsasifitwereboneless，sowellarepeopleablebypracticetomakeuseoftheirlimbstoaccomplishfeatswhichastonishordinarypersonswhoselimbsarelesspliable。

Thetrapezegivesopportunityforthedisplayofverycleverexhibition，ofstrengthandagility；atfirstsightthegymnastwouldappeartobeflyingfromonecross-bartotheother，andwhenwatchingsuchflightsIhaveaskedmyself:"Ifapersoncandothat，whycannothefly？"

Perhapshumanbeingswillsomedaybeseenflyingaboutintheairlikebirds。

Itonlyrequiresanextensionofthetrapeze"stunt"。Travellingintheairbymeansofairshipsoraeroplanesistamesportincomparisonwithbird-likeflights，whetherwithorwithoutartificialwings。

Therearemanyadvantagesinbeingabletotravelintheair。

Oneisaclearandpureatmospheresuchascannotbeobtainedinarailwaycar，orinacabinonboardaship；anotheristheopportunityaffordedoflookingdownonthisearth，seeingitasinapanorama，withthepeoplelookinglikeants。Suchanexperiencemustbroadenthementaloutlookoftheprivilegedspectator，andenablehimtoguesshowfragmentaryandpervertedmustbeourrestrictedviewofthingsingeneral。Thereis，however，dangerofusingsuchopportunitiesforselfishandmischievouspurposes。

Awickedmanmightthrowabombordosomeotherwickednonsensejustassomeoneelse，whoreallyseesthingsastheyareandnotastheyseemtobe，mightemployhissuperiorknowledgetobenefithimselfandinjurehisfellows；butthementionofthetrapezeanditsbird-likeperformershasdivertedmefrommytheme。

Isupposethatareferencetothecircuswouldbeincompletewhichoverlookedtheclowns，thosepoorsurvivalsofaprofessionalclassofjesterswhoplayedwhatappearstohavebeenanecessarypartinsocietyinruderdays，whenamusementswerelessrefinedandlessnumerous。

TheChinesehaveneverfelttheneedofprofessionalfoolers，andIcannotsaythatIadmirethecircusclown，buttheintelligencewhichcarefultrainingdevelopsinthehorse，thedog，etc。，interestsmeagooddeal。AninstanceofthiscameundermyownobservationduringarecentvisittoShanghaiof"Fillis"Circus"。Mr。Fillishadamarewhichformanyyearshadactedthepartofthehorseofahighwayrobber。

Therobber，flyingfromhisenemies，urgestheanimalbeyonditsstrength，andthesceneculminatedwiththedyinghorsebeingcarriedfromthearenatothegreatgriefofitsmaster。WhenthisentertainmentwasgiveninShanghaithishorse——"BlackBess"——fellsick。

Atonicwasadministeredintheshapeofthelivelytunewhichthebandalwaysplayedasshewasabouttoenterthearenaandplayherpartasthehighwayman"smare。Theanimalmadepitiableattemptstorise，andherinabilitytodosoapparentlysuggestedtotheintelligentcreaturethedyingsceneshehadsooftenplayed。

Shelaydownandrelaxed，preparedtodieinreality。Theattendants，ignorantofthemannerinwhichthehorsehadletherselfgo，triedtolifther，butinherrelaxedconditionherbowelssplit——

BlackBesshadactedherpartforthelasttime。

Chapter17。SportsPerhapsinnothingdotheChinesedifferfromtheirWesternfriendsinthematterofamusementsmorethaninregardtosports。

TheChinesewouldneverthinkofassemblinginthousandsjusttoseeagameplayed。Wearenotmodernizedenoughtocaretospendhalfadaywatchingothersplay。Whenwearetiredofworkweliketodoourownplaying。Ournationalgameistheshuttlecock，whichwetossfromonetoanotheroverourshoulders，hittingtheshuttlecockwiththeflatsolesoftheshoeswearewearing。

Sometimeswehitwithonepartofthefoot，sometimeswithanother，accordingtotherulesofthegame。This，likekite-flying，isagreatamusementamongmenandboys。

WehavenothingcorrespondingtotennisandotherWesternballgames，nor，indeed，anygameinwhichtheoppositesexesjoin。

Archerywasahealth-givingexerciseofwhichmodernideasofwarrobbedus。

Thesamebanefulinfluencehascausedtheold-fashionedhealthfulgymnasticexerciseswithheavyweightstobediscarded。

Ihaveseenyoungmenonboardocean-goingsteamersthrowingheavybagsofsandtooneanotherasapastime。

This，thoughexcellentpractice，hardlyequalsourancientathleticfeatswiththebowortheheavyweight。WesternsportshavebeenintroducedintosomemissionandotherschoolsinChina，butImuchdoubtiftheywilleverbereallypopularamongmypeople。Theyaretooviolent，and，fromtheorientalstandpoint，lackingindignity。

Yet，whenChineseresidingabroaddotakeupWesternathleticsportstheyprovethemselvestheequalsofallcompetitors，aswitnesstheirsuccessintheManilaOlympiad，andthenamethebaseballplayersfromtheHawaiianIslandsChineseUniversitymadeforthemselveswhentheyvisitedAmerica。Nevertheless，weretheaverageChinesetoldthatmanypeoplebuythedailypaperintheWestsimplytoseetheresultofsomegame，andthatasportingjournalismflourishesthere，i。e。，papersdevotedentirelytosport，theywouldregardthestatementasitselfapleasantsport。

Personally，IthinkwemightlearnmuchfromtheWestinregardtosports。

Theycertainlyincreasethephysicalandmentalfaculties，andforthisreason，iffornoother，deservetobewarmlysupported。

Chinasuffersbecauseheryouthshaveneverbeentrainedtoteam-work。

Weshouldbeamoreunitedpeopleifasboysandyoungmenwelearnedtotakepartingameswhichtooktheformofacontest，inwhich，whileeachcontestantdoeshisbestforhisownside，thewinningorlosingofthegameisnotconsideredsoimportantasthepleasureoftheexercise。IthinkagreatdealofthemanlinesswhichIhaveadmiredintheWestmustbeattributedtothenaturalloveofhealthysportforsport"ssake。

Gameshonestlyandfairlyplayedinculcatethevirtuesofhonor，candidness，andchivalry，ofwhichAmericahasproducedmanyworthyspecimens。

Whenonesideisdefeatedthewinnerdoesnotexultoverhisdefeatedopponentsbutattributeshisvictorytoanaccident；

Ihaveseenthedefeatedcrewinaboatraceapplaudingtheirwinningopponents。Itisanobleexampleforthedefeatedcontestantstogivecredittoandtoapplaudthewinner，anexamplewhichIhopewillbefollowedbymycountrymen。

Asanardentbelieverinthenatural，healthyandcompassionatelifeIwasinterestedtofindintheEncyclopaediaBritannicahowfrequentlyvegetarianshavebeenwinnersinathleticsports。*

TheywontheBerlintoDresdenwalkingmatch，adistanceof125miles，theCarwardineCup(100miles)andDibbleShield(6hours)

cyclingraces(1901-02)，theamateurchampionshipofEnglandintennis(foursuccessiveyearsupto1902)andracquets(1902)，thecyclingchampionshipofIndia(threeyears)，half-milerunningchampionshipofScotland(1896)，world"samateurcyclerecordsforalltimesfromfourhourstothirteenhours(1902)，100mileschampionshipYorkshireRoadClub(1899，1901)，tennisgoldmedal(fivetimes)。IhavenotaccesstolaterstatisticsonthissubjectbutIknowthatitisthereverseoftruthtosay，asProfessorGautier，oftheSarbonne，aCatholicfoundationinParis，recentlysaid，thatvegetarians"sufferfromlackofenergyandweakenedwillpower。"Theabovefactsdisproveit，andasagainstProf。Gautier，IquoteDr。J。H。Kellogg，theeminentphysicianandSuperintendentofBattleCreekSanitariuminMichigan，U。S。A。，whohasbeenastrictvegetarianformanyyearsandwho，thoughoversixtyyearsofage，isasstrongandvigorousasamanofforty；

hetoldmethatheworkedsixteenhoursdailywithouttheleastfatigue。

Mrs。AnnieBesant，PresidentoftheTheosophicalSociety，isanotherexample。Iamcrediblyinformedthatshehasbeenavegetarianforatleastthirty-fiveyearsandthatitisdoubtfulifanyflesh-eaterwhoissixty-fivecanequalherinenergy。

Whateverelsevegetariansmaylacktheyarenotlackinginpowersofendurance——

*E。B。，9thed。，vol。33，p。649——

Itisneedlessformetosaythathunting，or，asitiscalled，"sport"，isentirelyopposedtomyideaofthefitnessofthings。

Idonotseewhyitshouldnotbeasinterestingtoshootat"claypigeons"

astokilllivingbirds；andwhymovingtargetsarenotassuitablearecreationasrunninganimals。"Thepleasuresofthechase"

arenodoubtfascinating，butwhenoneremembersthattheseso-calledpleasuresarememorieswehavebroughtwithusfromthetimewhenweweresavagesandhuntedforthesakeoffood，noonecanbeproudofstillpossessingsuchtastes。

Tosaythathuntersto-dayonlykilltoeatwouldbedeniedindignantlybyeverytruesportsman。Thatthequarryissometimeseatenafterwardisbutanincidentinthegame；thesplendidoutdoorexercisewhichthehuntprovidescaneasilybefoundinotherwayswithoutinflictingthefear，distress，andpainwhichthehuntedanimalsendure。

Itisasadcommentaryonthestageatwhichhumanitystillisthatevenroyalty，towhomwelookforvirtuousexamples，seldommissesanopportunitytohunt。Whenamanhasastronghobbyheisunabletoseeitsevilsideeventhoughinotherrespectshemaybehumaneandkind-hearted。Thusthesorryspectacleispresentedofhighlycivilizedandhumanepeopledisplayingtheircouragebyhuntingandattackingwildanimals，notonlyintheirownnativecountrybutinforeignlandsaswell。Suchpersonagesare，Iregrettohavetoadd，notunknownintheUnitedStates。

Thefactthathuntinghasbeenfollowedfromtimeimmemorial，thattheancientEgyptians，Assyrians，andBabyloniansindulgedinthispastime，doesnotmakeitanymoresuitableanoccupationforusto-day。Thegoodqualitiesoftemperandpatiencewhichhuntingdemandsareequallywelldevelopedbyathleticsports。

Iunderstandthatagoodhuntingestablishmentwillcostasmuchas$10，000(2000Pounds)ayear。Surelythosewhocanaffordsomuchonluxuriescouldfindamorerefinedamusementinyachtingandsimilarrecreations。

Tosailayachtsuccessfullyinhalfagaleofwind，is，Ishouldimagine，moreventuresome，moreexciting，andapastimerequiringamanifestationofmoreofthequalitiesofdaring，thanshootingafrightenedanimalfromthesaferetreatofthesaddleofatrustyhorse；

andnoteventhehuntofthewildbeastcanequalintruesportsmanshipacontestwiththewindandthewaves，foritisonlyoccasionallythatabeastshowsfightbecauseheiswounded，andeventhenmaniswellprotectedbyhisgun；butwhetheryachtingorswimmingthesportsman"sattitudeofwatchfulnessisuninterrupted。

Ifancyitisconventionandcustom，ratherthanconvictionofthesuperiorityofthesport，thathasgivenhuntingitspre-eminence。

ItisonrecordthatfourthousandyearsagotheancientemperorsofChinastartedperiodicallyonhuntingexpeditions。Theythussoughtrelieffromthemonotonyoflifeinthosedays；inthedaysoftheStuarts，inEngland，royaltyfoundpleasureinshowswhichwerechildishandevenimmoral。

Ofcourseinbarbarouscountriesallsavagesusedtohuntforfood。

Forthemhuntingwasaneconomicnecessity，anditisnoslandertosaythatthemodernhuntisarelicofbarbarism。

Itis，indeed，amatterofsurprisetomethatthiscruelpracticehasnotceased，butstillexistsinthistwentiethcentury。

Itgoeswithoutsayingthathuntingmeanskillingthedefenseless，inflictingmiseryanddeathonthehelpless；evenifitbeadmittedthatthereissomejustificationforkillingaferociousanddangerousanimal，whyshouldwetakepleasureinhuntingandkillingthefox，thedeer，thehare，theotter，andsimilarcreatures？

Peoplewhohuntboastoftheirbraveryandfearlessness，andtoshowtheirintrepidityandexcellentshootingtheygotothewildernessandothercountriestocarryontheir"sport"。

IadmiretheirfearlesscouragebutIamcompelledtoexpressmyopinionthatsuchactionsarenotconsistentwiththoseofagood-heartedhumanegentleman。

Stilllessexcuseisthereforthepracticeofshooting。

Whatrighthavewetowantonlykilltheseharmlessanddefenselessbirdsflyingintheair？Ioncewatchedpigeonshootingatafamouswateringplace，thepoorbirdswereallowedtoflyfromthetrap-holessimplythattheymightberuthlesslykilledormaimed。Thatwaswantoncruelty；

toreprobatetoostronglysuchrevoltingbarbarityisalmostimpossible。

IamgladtosaythatsuchcruelpracticesdidnotcomeundermyobservationduringmyresidenceintheStates，andIhopethattheyarenotAmericanvicesbutareprohibitedbylaw。Nocountry，withtheleastclaimtocivilization，shouldallowsuchthings，andourdescendantswillbeastonishedthatpeoplecallingthemselvescivilizedshouldhaveindulgedinsuchwholesaleandgratuitousatrocities。Whenpeopleallowanimalstobemurdered——foritisnothingbutmurder——forthesakeofsport，theyoughtnottobesurprisedthatmenaremurderedbycriminalsforreasonswhichseemtothemgoodandsufficient。

Ananimalhasasmuchrighttoitslifeasmanhastohis。

Bothmaybecalledupontosacrificelifeforthesakeofsomegreatergoodtoagreaternumber，butbywhatmannerofreasoningcankillingforkilling"ssakebejustified？Doesthesuperiorcunningandintellectofmanwarranthistakinglifeforfun？Then，shouldaracesuperiortohumanityeverappearontheearth，manwouldhavenojustcauseofcomplaintifhewerekilledoffforitsamusement。ThereformerlyexistedinIndiaa"well-organizedconfederacyofprofessionalassassins"calledThugs，whoworshippedthegoddessKaliwithhumanlives。Theymurderedaccordingto"rigidlyprescribedforms"andforreligiousreasons。TheEnglish，whentheycameintopowerinIndia，naturallytookvigorousmeasurestostampoutThuggeeism；butfromahigherpointofviewthanourownlittleselves，isthereafterallsomuchdifferencebetweentheordinarysportsmanandthefanaticThuggee？Iftherebe，thebalanceisratherinfavorofthelatter，fortheThugatleasthadthesanctionofreligion，whilethehunterhasnothingtoexcusehiscrueltybeyondthelustofkilling。Idonotunderstandwhythehumanesocieties，suchas"TheSocietyforthePreventionofCrueltytoAnimals"，aresosupineinregardtothesepractices。TheChinesearefrequentlyaccusedofbeingcrueltoanimals，butIthinkthatthosewhoarelivinginglasshousesshouldnotthrowstones。

InthisconnectionIwouldremarkthatbirdsareshotnotonlyforpleasureandfortheirflesh，butinsomecasesfortheirplumage，andwomenwhowearhatsadornedwithbirds"feathers，do，thoughindirectly，encouragetheslaughteroftheinnocent。OnceaChinesewasarrestedbythepoliceinHongkongforcrueltytoarat。Itappearedthattherathadcommittedgreathavocinhishousehold，stealinganddamagingvariousarticlesoffood；whenatlastitwascaughtthemannaileditsfeettoaboard，asawarningtootherrats。ForthishewasbroughtbeforetheEnglishMagistrate，whoimposedapenaltyoftendollars。

Hewasastonished，andpleadedthattheratdeserveddeath，onaccountoftheserioushavoccommittedinhishouse。

TheMagistratetoldhimthatheoughttohaveinstantlykilledtherat，andnottohavetorturedit。Theamazedoffenderpaidhisfine，butmurmuredthathedidnotseethejusticeoftheBritishCourtinnotallowinghimtopunishtheratashechose，whileforeignersinChinawereallowedtheprivilegeofshootinginnocentbirdswithoutmolestation。

Imustconfess，peoplearenotalwaysconsistent。

ThePeaceSocietiesshouldtakeupthismatter，forhuntingisanimitationofwarandanapprenticeshiptoit。

Itcertainlycanfindnojustificationinanyofthegreatworldreligions，andnoteventheBritish，ortheGermans，whoidolizesoldiers，wouldimmortalizeamansimplybecausehewasahunter。

Fromwhateverpointthesubjectbevieweditseemsundeniablethathuntingisonlyasurvivalofsavagery。