Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1874-01-22
A RUN WITH The HOUNDS.


to the end Of March, "a day With the
hounds" is the most sportive Of all sports.
IL every county there are three or four
packs, " and the ''hunting appointment"
for each week are published 10 the various
local journals. A pack Of hounds" con-
sist Of twenty to City couple. The major
I i.y ef the packs arc owned by iudisid-
ual gentlemen. but ''subseripsion packs -
are BY no means uncommon. The only
interlude to continuous sport throughout
the winter is caused by Jack Frost, %
whcse hoary presence is seldom Of longer
duration than two or three weeks. y
The ''midlands" or ''mid land Counties
ore the most favorite resorts for fog hunt
ing; and Leicessershire. from time imme-
mortal, has always been the most frequent
ed. The underground Of tue old
"Quorn-taking its name from the viii
lage of Quorn-is most charmingly si.ua-
ted in the centre Of the county, afsording
every variety Of hill aud dale. hedge and
ditch, fences aud wells, wood and copse,
. to satisfy the most vcnturcsomc eques-
trian. IT'S run" with the 'Quo.n"
we propose to give our readers-alas
only in imagination; but the reality can
be witnessed BY any one who may be so
favorably circumstanced ~ to pass win
ter in Old England
Within an easy ride of the village o.
Quorn there is located one Of the mos,
ancient and extensive parks--.Oid Brad.
gate'-iu the world. being nearly twelve
miles in circumference, aud encompassed
with stone wall 1t is Of historic re.
aoun. and was formerly the residence o!
Lady Jane Grey, who was behcaded by
order of Mary. Her memory has beeu
handtd down to posterity, aud her
marble monument. together with tha,
Of her husband, Earl Gsi4ford Dudley, are
carefully preserved in tha. relic of antia-
uity. Lady Jane Grcy's Chapel near to
which is the sunken tournament grounds
surrounded by stately elms. whose con-
tinuity is only broken on one side for the
entrance Of the courtly cava!cadcs of BY
gone ages. ERADICATE Park is but sparse
ly studded with trees. almost its entire
acreage being covered with beautiful ferns,
growing to the height Of tive or three feet
which afford a splendid retrea. for millions
Of rabbits. thousands of deer, and scores
OF foxes. The 'old sod' is ycIvc.y with
age. and as you walk upon the sward j,
rebounds with an elasticity which otlit.
crates the footprints. The Pa.k is now
the property ofthe Earl Of Stamford, and
is kept in beautiful order by the keepe,
and attendants. and is thrown open to The
public fortwo days every week in th,
summer.
The 'Quorn Hounds will meet at Brad
gate on Monday is the welcome announce
men. in Saturdays local paper. Th.
neighborho hood rejoiees at the news. and
every sportsman who attends '.Divine ser
vice" on the Sunday fcrvently prays fol
fine weather on the Monday. Well. tn,
morning dawns. aud fine i, is-one o
those beautiful. balmy days that betokenl
certainty for magnificent run with th,
Quorn." At break Of day. the cntir,
ne'ghborhood is on the qui wire. Biped.
aud quadrupeds Of every class seem to vi,
with each other in preparation with th,
gala MY lord and my lady are as,i
earlier than usual. and al Q o'clock they
ara duly astired 10 hunting cossume-th'
former With black silk bat, swallow tailc.
scare, coat. aud white buekskin breeche
of fau!,less st. top boots with mirror
like polish. spurs equally bright. AMI hunt
ing whip with six-foot lash Of pipe-cla,
wi,iteness. My lady is attirei With
.jaunty,' ccquettishiy- shaped black bat
illasion veil, dark-green riding habit o
riches, hue. tight fitting boots. aud silver
mounted whip, Seated a, the library
window o. their mansion. they awaited ,h
su nmous tha. the horses are ready at .,h
halr door. Here they come along ,b
grareled carriage-way prancirg. dancing
and gay. In another minute each ride
is in the saddle. aud at an easy pace,
accompanied BY agroor at a respccifu
dh,tancc, O,d Bradcate is reached bal
an hour before the Meet 10 time for mu
,uai recognition Of friends among ,h
nobility and gentry, ere the hounds 'ihro,
Of s
The brightness Of the morning ha
brought to the Meet . large ccncour.
Of persons. some 800 OF 400 Of whom, i
the properties os enc iady 10 three gentle
Dsn, are mounted os nagsiseent s.thor
cuf ufhbreds.'
The .huntsnen' and The 'shippess-in
! (tso in .saeher.) wearing oiswexc
ir.sk coats to distinguish them from ,hs;