Today ushers in the season of the sportsman’s delight. From now on
for the next few weeks the popping of guns will be heard throughout
the land, and the wild life of field and wood will spend its days in
bewildered trepidation.
Thus man returns to the primal instinct that drove him forth to forage
for his daily provender in the era before agriculture and stock yards
began to supply his needs in a scientific manner.
It must seem strange to the birds and beasts, this sudden explosion of
humanity. Could they reason, what would be their judgment of beings who
find pleasure in inflicting pain and death on inoffensive creatures?
In their own struggle for existence they have their tragedies, but
these are based upon the necessities of nature. Man’s invasion of their
haunts with snare and gun is too often wanton.
As civilization progresses the hunting passion will disappear. Already
we are learning to value the birds for their usefulness as destroyers
of harmful insects, and coming to appreciate the beauty and wonder of
the life that belongs to the little wild animals in our woods. The
camera is superseding the shotgun; intelligent study and understanding
are taking the place of senseless destruction. The invention of gun
powder was an epoch-making event, but the world will be happier when we
have outgrown its use.—Louisville Herald.
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