The New York herald., 1878-03-25
THE ENGLISH HUNTING SEASON.
From tho London Week, Feb. cal


From tho London Week, Feb. %
Tho wonderfully mild season which has been so
welcome 10 hunting men s not without signs OF com
ing 10 shd. Its smiles have already led TO that
common spring sight, abhorred by all hunters, the APP
pearance OF numerous lambs Skipping about the
sunny banks while long ''them sinking violets
OF Leechs pleasant sketch will bloom beside the prim-
rose clusters which at present star many sunny
corner How scent be expected or hounds trusted
in the meadows, unaer these conditions? Horses will
soon De enjoying their much needed rest, and clever
ieucers" become drug in the market The gories OF
pink and tops must be consigned once more 10 the
cupboard, while the huntsmen and whips will retire
into private life for another months. Who ever
saw q whippcr-in duriug the dog days2 He would
clearly be as much of an anachrouism as bathing
machine at Christmas, or a pair Of skates In
harvest Doubtless in the bosom OF his family no
enjoys seclusion and by administering sound hog-
ging every and then to some unruly hound makes
that he Is watching over the interests OF tho
hunt, as the veteran statesman, rude donatus, and
dismissed rural shades still convuse the king
dom with postcard and embroil slumbering factions
a. the opening dinner OF club.
This winter there has scarcely been check to hunt
Ing Mild last season, great and constantly re
curing Focus laid much OF tho country under
The ground was 30 saturated that leaping was ron.
dered dangerous, and many accidents resulted Even
this source OF annoyance has been absent OF late.
Probably It must tax tho memories of most hunting
men TO ind q parallel for their wintcr's enjoyment.
Yet the brotherhood can scarcely over have 100 much
OF its iavorne sport: Appetite grows the more
It is INDUCED. So long AS hounds and horses
hold out, SO long w,ll men ride; tor hunt
me country during the winter not merely ondurabo
but delightful The pleasant breakfast party, tho
sense OF exhilaralion while riding 70 the moet as
min vatt IN m Qarl an
cneery chat with the friend casually mot on the way,
the more exciting gossip on county aud foreign news
sense OF duness before noon! Then hard days ga
loplng, followed by the saunter homeward through
light, wormth und dinner in pleasant soclety-wnat
could morehtly end the happy day and vanquish
dreary English wlnters NO wonder tnat our scandi-
deined heroes In hunting the great wild boar and
ieAsting on aterward only to find that II Game TO
life again continually tor next DAYS hunt IL was the
ordinary tenor OF their earthly life, II we may trust
the soundest theory oil mythology, which prompted
tue thus regard bunting the greatest felicity
couceiyaDle in the future state This Berserker
scneme OF exstence-hghting and huntng--stil
the most commendabls OF all lives 10 muittudes
The farmer who does not hunt may perhaps be ex.
cused II he looks on the sport with jaundiced eye.
Were II not from habit and sentiment many would
w!ncc at ,he thought OF sixty well mounted riders
charging tueir icnces and riding over the young
are seen IN the equanimy with whcn muititudes OF
nou.huntng farmers look upon such sight. for the
their hedges, iorDId entry on tneir land, and
even threaten horsemen with pitchorks. These
humors, oddly enough abound especially near Inc
it might oe thought that proximity TO liberal
studios would soften brutal manners Many
readers will know, however, from past con-
liss with exasperaed ters OF the soil that such is
far from being the case. large tenan,ry cndures
much gaopIng over the farms from strong esprit dc
corps and il their landlord be NJ. +. h. he Is toer
ably certain TO be cGnsi1erate when rent day comes,
or iarms have to be reieI such a held however, as
Princess m ner da at
Crlche when II was computed that between two thou
sand and three thousand horsemen 10 say nothing Of
pedestrians assembled 10 do them honor, must be q
severe trial tue feelings Of even the patriotic
farmer. But the Brush yeoman takes naturally to
the sport From the nrst morn Of ''cubbing" IN dewy
autumn TO tho bresklast neet at the end of the
SOU his enthusiasm never fails. Perhaps he manages
his young horses as some city friend rides home
with MN in tho cleaning. Al all events the
possibility OF thus beng aolo to combine pleasure and
profit luis any quams OF conscience which might
arso from his excessive devotion to tho chase Ii his
sporting mbiton scars higher ,han the hunting ncld
there are probably county races or IA hunt steepie
Cnase wnero u well bred iencer from his own stable
may run. Ii even this does not satisfy his thirst
for game he enter himself MS gentsman jockey
and rae before his envous brethren, dressed In all
the colors OF the RAINBOW. Such tastes however, are
apt TO prove troublesome In the long run
Our sympathics are win the burly farmer, who
once or tw ice week meets the hounds at "Wood
Cross" or the 'rhrce Queens" anu obtains much
enjoy ymcnt and capital days exercise. There is no
better recipe banish those cares about prices and
labor which are al present aiing 10 the arncr's oi
trv Know how entirely the sport absorbs every other
interest during winter. AS soon as The HOUNDS are
heard In the outskirts OF village set down among
pastoral slopes, with background OF woodland, the
only splash is made which ever dimples It's quiet
waters. Every man rushcs IRON garden ana iarm-
yard, tue vcry housewives are not above running up
stars 10 the windows, boys climb the nearest hay
stack the rectors chIdren at once breaking away
from their nurse, she Is tam, IN truth, nothing loah
10 ION IN tho excited helterskeiler race. horse
man appear Gt unexpected corners. Then
kuut OF rout men In PINK charge the hedge into the
h.srA rIpcaa annd 10 !. a. np.tInS
but only ivr u moment Soon shout lrom the Long
Wood announces tnat the fox has been viewed The
plough field, followed by the gallant company. The
scent is again hit OF. clark 10 hun ~ shouts the
WHIP. A lew laggards spur wildly anu leap ram
dom into the arabic leld Then with another distant
blast Inc music 0i tue pack Is borne lain;ly 10 the
villagers ears aud the whole cavacade has swept on
IN less time than II has akcn TO describe IT, The rec
tor who dashod down his sermon aud icaped through
tne study window AZ tue first alarm, now slands
rubbing his eyes by the orchard corner aud mentally
comp ring the rout 10 the ghOstly swish hounds"
wnIcn sweep over DartmoOr III iuii cay, 10 sooner
crilying the D. traveller than their NOISY
rcsou nd behind The dusky Tor the distance. Even
to the experienced there Is something DewIlderng III
Inc sueeuy d,sappearance OF tho whole hunt MIN
or two after thoy nrs came into sight The peace OF
the ltIc village community seems no soouer rudely
broken usual duiness settles down again upon
MudthOrp
Pleasant aud picturesque. however, as are
these aspects ot hunting, culture and the tone
oi society IN district gwen over TO the
chase are not altogether benefited by it, Men
auusc women's gossip the latter might retalale did
luey hear much vi The conversation AT Tho cover side
1t un Ilipatured story or uncharitaDIc surmise per
vadcs the country, II Jones Is SAID To DC about TO
marry his coog or Is certain that Robinson cannot
face MS creditors much longer, these uniounded
mors mostly set aioOt IL will DC found, during tho
hunting season Gossip apart, however, conversation
hunting morning - not brilliant; u much re-
sembIcs Pracd's lines:-
"a 6ve-Darred gale''-'a precious peari''-
"urnve things may all be punuod Onp'
''The wings. H. ank heaven, sre"-"out of cur'
Her age is"-"four by London"
No one requires jaded author, or merely an idle
man, ior good gaiop to attend the meet, ike Kings
ley ~ Luncelot smith, with volume OF ST. Francis de
lies his pocket. But the aimless talk OF cxpectant
men while waiting for tho fox TO go away is much
below the pleasant chat OF cricket match ana faI
Inferior 10 the friendly discussions Scpiem bcr
the morning sun gliuts upon the stubblcs. The same
inanIty pursucs the urcd foxhuntcr at the other
end OF the day. Ho cannot rouse his INTEL eel
to greater excrton tnan "reminiscences oi the
run, 10 relate how Walter shirkcd tho water
jump, ana young SHOCKS came TO gre