It is a great thing to know--and one must believe it if one believes, as I do, in what the newspapers say--that every single male member of the upper or fashionable ranks of society is at this moment engaged in slaughtering grouse. It is of course well known that every member of Parliament is, on his election, presented by a grateful country with a large and well-stocked grouse-moor, situated in one of the most picturesque and romantic parts of Scotland, and no one (not even a brewer) is ever raised to the peerage unless he can prove that at least three generations of his family have shot grouse regularly on the 12th of August on a moor of their own. Thus is the connection of both branches of our legislature with sport safeguarded. * * * * * [Illustration] Whenever the 12th of August, or, for the matter of that, the 1st of September or the 1st of October, comes round with the revolving year, we are informed in every newspaper that "Sportsmen were early astir." There is about these words a halo of tradition so ancient and venerable as to have become almost sacred. Imagination conjures up the picture of happy bands of shooters all duly booted, gaitered, gunned, cartridged and cigarred, sallying forth with dogs and keepers at 5 A.M., no doubt after eating, as condemned men do, a hearty breakfast. Of course this may be so. I have read it so often that I hardly dare to doubt it. My own experience, however, is that sportsmen are not specially early even on the 12th, although keepers and other professional guns who cater for the London market are often so early as to anticipate by more than a few hours the recurring anniversary. * * * * * Now with black London's close and torrid street Stern Caledonia's heathered moors compete. Lo, well equipped with cartridge-bag and gun, Concurrent streams of rank and fashion run Where, though the birds be strong upon the wing, Not unrewarded sounds the frequent ping; Where dealing fate to feather (and to fur) The early sportsman is perceived astir, And in the lengthy language of the chase, A bird's no bird, but merely half a brace. Some skilful, some not fit to shoot for nuts, Walk for their game or take their stand in butts; And, wondrous fact, as all the scribes proclaim, Each from a separate butt destroys his game. At least it was so when the EMPEROR shot, so With non-Imperials it perhaps is not so. * * * * *