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，begantosendtheponyballetsandsoubrettesonthestageswithouttheirhosieryandwiththeirkneescladinnothingbutacoatofwhitewashsometimestheyevenforgottoputonthewhitewash，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，theCarwardineCup100milesandDibbleShield6hours
cyclingraces1901-02，theamateurchampionshipofEnglandintennisfoursuccessiveyearsupto1902andracquets1902，thecyclingchampionshipofIndiathreeyears，half-milerunningchampionshipofScotland1896，world'samateurcyclerecordsforalltimesfromfourhourstothirteenhours1902，100mileschampionshipYorkshireRoadClub1899，1901，tennisgoldmedalfivetimes。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$10，0002000Poundsayear。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。