Morning Herald

French Sportsmen.—Shooting in France, is no longer the expensive pursuit that it once was. Like many other amusements it has ceased to be exclusive—it has become almost universal. To "do the thing in style" a man formerly sacrificed his whole fortune; he may now break his neck or his arm, but the expenses seldom cause him to break up his establishment. La Chasse is the mania of the day; the public conveyances are loaded with dogs, guns, and Chasseurs; there is no getting a place by any coach. Vehicles of every description have now become fortresses; as soon as the rail roads are completed we shall have on all sides moving citadels. La Chasse is the "madness of the hour," of which all classes partake. Those who are not accustomed to shoot at least assume the appearance of sportsmen by adopting the costume and paraphernalia. Thus, whilst the exquisite of the Champs Elysées is dressed in short plaid pantaloons, thick gaiters, and coarse waistcoat, with a belt and powder-horn of the last "patent," the more humble clerk of the public office begs a holiday—increases the magnifying power of his green spectacles—bargains for the loan of an old fusee—pays his half crown for a shooting frock—and possesses himself of a fat pointer; the haberdasher's shopman and the young apprentice linen-draper are frequently to be found absent from their counters, practising with a worn out pair of pistols at the Moulin de la Galette in the Champs de Belleville, hoping from such beginning to be able to destroy snipes, and larks, and partridges.