SACRED DEER.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume III, Issue 361, 21 February 1914, Page 1 (Supplement)

SACRED DEER.

From time immemorial deer have teen held in reverent regard by the Japanese. Herds are kept in compounds, and tho highest respect is paid to the animals. In olden times the shogun gave the people such a strict order to protect tho sacred animals that if anyone happened to hurt or kill them he was put to death on the spot. It was a period of terror.

Even at the present day. the deer are so tame and abundant in the shrine grounds that they, in fine weather, stroll round to the streets by twos and threes and surround passers-by, asking for food, and sometimes holding their sleeves in their mouths in an affectionate manner. Once a year some of the deer are caught by means of a net with a handle by several tamers (in service of the Kasnga Shrine Office) and taken to an enclosure, where their splendid horns are ent off with a saw. while a crowd of spectators watch the work with breathless interest (admission ten sen, equal to about 2Jd.). This done, some of the sacred horns are. as a custom, awarded to tho spectators by means of lottery. ' HIS GRIEVANCE The Court of Appeal has finally decided against Mr. George Gray, the well-known actor; in the action brought aoainst him by Miss Marie Corelli for infringing the copyright of her novel, “ Temporal Power.” in his sketch, “The People’s King.” If Miss Corelli has a large circle of readers who admire ]»er books, there is also a number of people who do not. Two men belonging to the opposing camps, both well-known journalists, were discussing her the other day. “What I like about Miss Corelli,” said the one who admired the authoress “is that she is so—so alive!” “Yes. that’s what I object to!” reI torted the other.