The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-10-05
Hare and Hounds.

Would you like to hear something,
Young friends, about a famous out
door game that boys in England play?
There, as in your own country,
each season has its own especial sports,
and as soon as the warm, sunny May
DAYS come, when the fields and roads
are dry and firm, "Hare and hounds "
is the cry from boyish lips, and young
hearts beat high for Joy in the sunshine,
and boyish feet almost spurn the earth
as they prance along the highways, and
over the hedges, getting in training
for their much-loved sport.
1t is confined principally to school
boys between the ages of 10 and Is,
though often boys who do not belong to
the school are members of the "hunt,
and very often, too, the little fellows are
the best runners in the party.
You must know that England is a
great hunting place, and each papa who
can afford it keeps his horse and "fol-
lows the hounds who follow the foxes "
day after day in the hunting season, re-
turning at night jubilantand enthusiastic,
and sometimes waving high in triumph the
"brush" (the fox's tail, that is) which
the huntsman who catches and kills the
fox always has as trophy.
So boys grow up to love and exult In
this sport and to long for the days when
they, too, can have horse for their very
own, and go galloping "over hill and
dale, through bush and through brake, !"
as the proverbial sly old fox may lead.
Till that happy time comes, however,
"hare and hounds" is the Joy OF their
hearts-as it was of their papas when
they, too, were boys-and this is how it
is played.
The boys divide themselves into two
parties, each having its " champion run
ner," and lots are drawn as to which of
these runners shall be the "hare in the
first hunt of the season; afterward, they
go by turn. =,
The rest of the boys are the "hounds,
and the other champion is the huntsman
who marshals them to the "meet
(which is usually the school play
orounds), gives the signal for the start,
calls them off by shrill whistle when
they get on the wrong scent, and, in fact,
is "master of the hounds" par excel
lence.
The "hare is provided with small,
open satchel or pouch, slung across his
shoulder. and filed with bits of white
paper about an inch square-heavy paper
that the wind will not carry away. 1t is
the privilege of the small boys who are
too little to take part in the hunt to pre-
pare these bits of paper, and for day
or two before "run" they have great
fun in preparing "scent," as they call it.
The hare is also allowed five minutes
"head start" and is allowed to choose
L. lN,,t oh 70 10,
the bits of white paper at short intervals
all along the way he goes, as they are
his tracks for the hounds to follow. The
five minutes given him he usually spends
in seeking for some obscure place al
which he leaves little package of yellow
or blue paper to denote the starting.
point.
This may be some blocks away, or up {
side street, or just around the corner
he has his choice, and free opportunity
to seek it, as the "hounds go within
doors till the five minutes are up. Their
the huntsman cries "whoop halloo 7
and away they all bound hither ant
thither, seeking till they find the packag,
of colored paper (which they are obliged
to do before they can START; the findel
must cry "hark forward y then of
they go, on the scent.
Sometimes 80 long time is taken NJ
in finding the starting-point that TIN
hare makes famous Roadway, and cal
ssdouble" on his followers-that is, re
trace his way for a..block or two on tn
other side OF the street Qeaving the bit
of paper all along, of course), go roun,
q block, or, if they are in the country
he probably makes for the woods, goe
in some distance, then turns back, pei
haps. till he finds some leafy tree, u
which he climbs and hides himself I'll
the hounds" have gone by-anythin
to put them off the track.
When the hare has gone far enough
and wishes to return, especial care mu,
be taken, as, if he is seen, the hound
can rush after him, "cross lots, an
woe betide him if he is caught He
no longer champion, but has to give u
his badge to the fortunate g catcher,
and cannot even be one of the hound
till he has paid a certain forfeit demand