The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-04-26

BY HENRY DAY, ESQ, oF THE NEW YORK BAR.
Every people viii have their sports, and
the character Of a people can, in many re-
spects, be determined by their national
amusements. A Roman amphitheatre,
with It's wild beasts and contending gladi.
ators, indicated the cruel and bloodthirsty
temper Of the thousands who gazed upon
them.
The sports of .he chase are said also to
indicate the pluck and prowess of the
English people. Among all the character.
istic spectacles of England none is more
impressive to a stranger than .meet"
in some rural town, in front of some an
eient castle, in the heart of England; and
no one can fully understand the English
character till he has seen it. 1t is en-.
phatieally an English sport, and while
horse-racing has become national sport
in all countries, fox-hunting can be seen
in all its glory only in England. The
hunts in Italy, Austria and Maryland, are
only feeble limitations The reason is, that
it is pastime which can be sustained
only by cultivated, rich and well organ
iEed community. have seen the meet
on the Roman Campaigns, but it does not
compare with the chase in England. Be-
fore had seen the hounds in full chase,
| thought what foolish, unmeaning and
unmanly sport for 5Oor 100 men, as many
horses, and 40 or 80 hounds, to spend one
whole day in running down one poor inno-
cent fox or stag, and, when wearied out,
to kill the poor animal and bear home its
tail as a trophy of the prowess of 100
men.
SO thought before the hunt, | came
to the meet !" and when l saw the 40 OF
80 hounds, on the track Of the stag, come
rushing by in full cry, and the riders, with
red coats aud high-top boots, on their
splendid hunters, following at their high
est speed over fences, bitches and fields
all shouting with excitement as they
stretched away in long line over the
wide field, think, if had had horse,
should have Joined in with them. Moth
ing in the way Of sport can exceed the
beauty of the chase as I saw il one beauti
full morning, in England, about 40 miles
from London The "meet" was on the
top of hill, near an old church in Hor'
sham. You could see for miles in every
direetion--the whole landscape diversified
with irregular fields Of grass and grain
with patches of woods, and farm-house'
surrounded by large stacks of hay aud
grain scattered here and there, and now
and then fine residence in the distance
surrounded by large park and lawr
beautifully green even in winter while
the country roads, with steep sides lineC
with hedge rows and holly, wound irregu
larly over the whole landscape like {
wreath Of green.
The stag was brought to the 'meet" il
wagon. Around him were assembled
the country gentlemen, the farmers, th'
workingmen and boys of the whole vi
cinity for miles. He was let loose, ant
away he went over fences, across hedge
aud ploughcd fields, towards wood
with head erect and defiant air. He wa
allowed, for fair play, fifteen minutes
start Of the hounds. A pack of about Al
dogs we're then let loose. They took th'
scent one after another in long line, witt
continual cry and then the men, alread.
mounted, followed on The men and boy
on foot, all shouting, join in or cut acros
the lots to intercept the course of the stag
Soon the cry of the dogs ceases. The.
have lost the scent They go wandering
around, as in maze, in every direction
The trainers, wearing red caps, with
horn, at last, by dint of shouting, callinl
this dog and that by name, bring them al
hack on the old trail until the scent
.ouce more found, when all the hound
again set up their cry and are offagain.
What surprised me most was, that tn
people of the whole country joined !
this sport. Land proprietors, Members Q
Parliament, nobility, farmers in thei
smocks on their small cobs, workingme
and boys-in short, the whole cornmunit
Joined in the sport.
The stag was said to be coming toward
the public road at the foot of the hill
AS we drove down We heard the hound
approaching US. They crossed the road !
full cry just in front of our carriags
Then came on the riders | expected
see some neck-hreaking leaps, for the ban
from the field into the road was high, an
a fence also shut 1t of; but as the mel
one after another, came to the fence, the
halted, looked for good place 70 leaI
and then looked to the other side 70 Sc
where they would land II was not quit