The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-10-05
ed by rule-usually something good to

the playground, the opposite party na'
to "stand treat" 30 you may imagine
how hard each side strives to win. 1t II
a capital game when really played accord
ing to rules, and English boys think the
rules half the sport. 1t has been played
for several generations-an old game
not only in England, but wherever
English boys have gone, or English
games are known. At Vevay, in Swift
erland. where there is large pension
(schooD for boys, it is the regular sum-
mer amusement; but it is hard running
there. for the roads are so up and
down billy" Gas the boys say, and the
hare can never find good hiding place.
One bright little Enlsh lad said, :" no
wonder Swissies are buffers no boy
can learn to run in country that is all
set mp on edge
/ should not wonder if some OF the boy
readers of 81. Nicholas already know
about this game, since so many OF their
English cousins come to this country.
III so. this account must be for those who
have not heard OF it.
But it is not only BOYS who play
"hare and hounds" gentleman who
has Just returned from China told me
that at Shanghai and Ningpo the En-
glish Observation-Disclosures officers and
others-have quite recently introduced
the game, with this difference, they play
it ON horseback, and make whole days
sport of it.
Early IN the morning they send out
some one who knows the country well
sometimes Chinaman, and that makes
the fun all the better, give him good
fair start, perhaps half an hour, then
gallop after him as hard as the horses
can go, as if they were indeed back in
"merrie England" hunting fox or
hare. They need sharp eyes to discover
the paper scent" when they fly over
the ground so quickly, but that only
makes them the keener hunters.
In Scotland / think boys enjoy the
game fully as much as in England, keep
closer to the rules, and welcome each
hunting-day as eagerly as the first one
of the season. Wednesday and Satur-
day afternoons are usually chosen for
hunts; though sometimes an indulgent
teacher, if diligently importuned. will
give the whole school an extra half holi-
day, and go himself to see the start.
Does it seem strange to think OF hav-
ing only half of Saturday for play? 1t
is almost q universal custom, at least In
Scotch country places, to have school on
| Wednesday and Saturday mornings till
noon, giving the rest of those days for
holiday, and boys there seem to like 1t
so. suppose that is because they have
never known any other way.
But they get great deal of enjoyment
out of their "halfes Gas they call those
hoidays), and after school-hours as
well, though school does not usually
close till 4 o'clock. This is late, isn't
it? But Scotch summer-days hardly
seem to have any end. All through
June, July and August Con the west coast
principally, it is as light at 10 o'clock in
the evening as it is in our country at
z, so games 60 on all through the
"gloamin' till tired feet turned gladly
homeward, where weary heads seek
downy pillows, and bright eyes
close in the sound, healthful sleep that
comes so quickly to happy childhood af-
ter long, joyous day spent in the pure,
fresh summer air.
1 once saw a splendid game played in
the Scotch town of Ayr, which so inter
ested me that actually followed the
hounds" myself, though at very mod
est pace, and not over the hedges.
The hare was getting rather the worst
of 1t, and, having nowhere else to hide,
rushed into a nearby railway station
where train was waiting, gave the
guard a knowing wink, and sprang into
one of the carriages, and the train moved
slowly off just as the painting hounds
came in sight. He threw handful OF
papers from the window, but kept him
self well out of view.
A little cousin of mine, who wa:
huntsman that day, saw the papers fut
tering in the breeze, and, being a:
"quick as wink to catch an idea
knew in a minute what the "wily' hare
had done-so, fleet of foot as he was
quick of thought, he flew across the
fields to the next station (Which, fortJl.
nately, was not far distant, but to reacl
which the train had to go round a long
culve), and breathless, but triumphant
caught the unsuspecting hare just as he
stepped from the railway carriage
chuckling to himself at the thought o.
having outwitted all his pursuers.
Wasn't he fairly caught, think you
and did not he have to pay up for his
trick? The "hounds," who soon APP
peared on the scene, carried him off t.
the nearest "sweetie shop" Gas Scotch
laddies call candy stores), and made hin
spend every bawbie" Ga copper half
penny, worth one cent of our money h,
had for "toffy" and other sweeties."
Now, boys, you who know all abou
"hare and hounds" as we'll as you who
do not, try it-,0iM the rules-and SCI
if you do not find it jolly good game
that will give you that hghtness anC
fieetness of foot 80 much to be desired
by every boy, and will help you Il
spend many a happy holiday with fun
loving comrades, when old games ar,
"played OUT and you long for some
thing news. Nicholas for October.