[ New Sporting Magazine ]


This sporting monthly, which began publication in 1831, is not to be confused with the older Sporting Magazine, which began publication in 1793.


The February, 1833, issue carried a brief comic article, "Hood's Comic Annual for 1833,) satirizing some aspects of hunting. It was written by Thomas Hood (1799 - 1845), a noted English poet, editor, and humorist. Newfoundlands are referred to in a context which makes clear that cultural and ethnic sensibilities back then were, shall we say, rather different than they are now.

The narrator quotes his (fictional) friend "Bat" remarking on things he's never seen in his life:

"I'll tell you another remarkable remark I've made through life, I never yet see a Jew pedlar with a Newfoundland dog." This is also a very important observation, and though there is no saying why a Jew pedlar should not have a Newfoundland dog, if such be his fancy, still we cannot charge our recollection with ever having seen such a sight; but Bat is confident on the subject, and we must therefore cede the point. . . ." (208)





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.new sporting magazine - february 1833