Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 November 1880 — Man a Fighting Animal. [ARTICLE]

Man a Fighting Animal.

Do what we will with him, man is naturally a fighting animal. There is a curious autobiography to be found in Southern bookshops, written by an old hunter about a century ago. There is the same thirst for blood aud fierce love of the those in it as if a beast of prey or gra\ hound were telling its story. The most amusing example is where the old man tells how he and his sons once trained some young dogs to hunt bears. “I put on the skin or an old bear.” he says, “and crawled on all fours, while Elisha and Job drove the pttpa on. They were scared at first, but presently the whole six attacked me furiously, bit my calves, tore my hair, bung on my ears. I began to shout ‘Enough !’ but Lisha cried, ‘Don’t, dad, don’t! It’s the life of the pupa.” He adds, “Of course I staid. I had consideration tbr the dogs.” It takes a great deal of training to root out this instinct from men who inherit it. Everybody knows the history of the fighting Quakers during the revolutionary war. Many of the staia sons of staid sires of the same faith slipped oat of meeting during the last war to shoulder a musket. One venerable old friend in Germantown, Pa., found that three of his sons bad goue to this conflict against which his creed arrayed him. The youngest felt that he, too, must go, but fearing to tell his family, he took bis gun one day and began -to clean it, placing himself In nis father’s way. The old gentleman saw him and paced slowly up and down, but said nothing. Presently be approached the young man. “Charles,” he said, deliberately, “u the devil has made thee feel that thee need one of these worldly instruments spare not thy money, but get the best.” Alexander Campbell, the most combative of Scotch reformers and theologians, once submitted his head to the fingers of a phrenologist, who had no knowledge of Mr. Campbell’s calling. The man finished his exam* illation with the words; “From your executive ability and love of fighting, Mr, you are or ought wbe a great soldior.” The aged clergyfnan heaved a sigh, “No air, no. Circumstances were against me. Bat acording to my opportunity, I’ve done what I eoxud—l’ve done what I could.” A msu has not time to subdne his passions, establish his soul in virtue and come up to the perfection of his nature, before ,he Is homed off the stage.—[Addison- --