Letter writer Ray Andresen (Aug. 22) and the caption writer who stated “Readers agree with Gov. Percival Baxter, who opposed bear baiting” have confused the use of food by present-day hunters with the old English custom of bear-baiting.
“Bear-baiting is a blood sport involving the worrying or tormenting (baiting) of bears.” (Wikipedia) Until it was prohibited in 1835 it was a common form of entertainment in which a chained bear was set upon by dogs in an enclosed arena.
In the quote attributed to Gov. Baxter he clearly meant “Bear-baiting” (not hunting), since he refers to it as an “exhibition.”
Let the debate continue, hopefully based on facts, not misleading quotations.
The similar “sport” of bull-baiting also flourished in England (thus bulldogs). It was this sort of “entertainment” appealing to people’s blood lust at the expense of animals to which Baxter objected.
Today we have substituted football and mixed martial arts, but that’s another story.
I’m neither a hunter nor a gun nut, just an old retired lawyer with an interest in English history and a desire for accuracy.
Jack Ridge
Scarborough
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