The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-12-29

Ia C-Pl1SC. UGlOlC WHICH, Two Vi
three hounds dozed lazily. II the centre Of
Of the room stood q large table strewn with
pitchers and mugs, around which were
gathered the host and his guests. And while
the good old matrons, in their home-spun
dresses and frilled caps, sat at the spinning
wheel, ar gossipped with their friends, the
men o. the mugs of cider or glasses of
apple brandy-the staple drink-discussed
the pleasure Of the chase, proudly extolled
the power and endurance Of their horses, or
reverted to the beauty and ssgacity of their
hounds.
In the fall, after the "fodder had been
who was the fortunate possessor Of a fleet
nag, or pack or hounds-and fortune seemed
to have dispensed with a prodigal hand in
this respect-took the field for q brief respite
season of recreation he very judiciously
combined business with pleasure, for the
crafty c~unningness of the annoying depre-
dator had suggested the %expedient Of exter-
mination, and poor Reynard was hunted
with an enthusiasm and persistency that fore
told his eventual humiliation.
The homogenity of these people is char
acteristically Southern. Their habits and
customs are Identical; and all those ele-
ments Of sympathy and liberality proyerbial
of the Southern people pervade the residents
of the Peninsula, and as a consequence parti-
cipation in the chase was not restricted to
the wealthy. Social prescription had not
yet been born among them, and those alb
surd conventionalities so conspicuously iden-
tilted with modern society, were happily dis
carded. To be poor was regarded as no bar
to association, and responsibility was q moral
sutf1ciency to open the door Of society. The
annual gatherings of the regular clubs took
place on Christmas. From Christmas eve
until midnight on New Years eve, all work
was suspended, and the intervening time was
given over to hilarious sports among both
white and colored. During this time of
merry-making some of the renowned hun
tiers from upper Delaware and the borders Of
Pennsylvania were always present. It must
be remembered that there were but few rail-
roads in those days, and a greater part Of the
journey had to be performed on horseback
or in carriages, and for days previous to the
assembling Of the company a constant stream
Of horsemen and dogs poured into the rem
devious. The strangers from a distance
were objects Of special attention from the
negroes, who paid them marked respect. Il
done tole you, Jim," one would remark,
"Marse Ben from Pennsylvania got the boss
boss"
An informal meeting was held in the after
noon to arrange preliminaries, and in the
evening (Which was Christmas eve), the fes-
tivities were inaugurated by q grand supper,
and the cornwall company would prolong
their stay at table until the midnight hour.
Then to rest, a few hours Of happy sleep.
For it was always
"Soon az Aurora drives away the night,
And edges eastern clouds with rosy light,
The healthy huntsman, with the cheerful horn,
Summons the dogs, and greets The dapple morn.n
The prancing steeds, the restless hounds,
the crowd of curious lookers-on formed
q scene at once novel and eliminating.
At the old meetings the chase continued at
until the day before the new year,
and as an appropriate finale to the sport 8
oall was given on the evening Of that day, d
conspicuous feature OF the dinner being the
gentleman whose hounds had vanquished the
+ocs A., p, ~ af fcvnc To coo,,p1aH q |
prominent place in the group of merry dan
;ers, his hat decorated with the trophies Of
lis victories-the tails of the dead foxes.
With advancing years, and as the country
nents OF society were introduced, this invig-
rating and favorite field sport. though not
Wholly eliminated from the category of out
Ioor amusements, has, in q measure, lost its
and is being gradually supplanted
" the more practice and scientific, but no
exciting, pastime afforded by the rod and
Some of the old veterans of the chase
till cling tenaciously to life, and, although
riginal characteristics, its charm fingers in
heir memory, and occasionally, booted and
nd spurred, and surrounded by their hounds
5 Of yore, they
Mount the fiery, restless steed,
And DER the hills and through
The wales Reynard leads them
For d chase.
- wR@sA@pk - &saa-
AZ MAN OF War.
rTOn1Dn Gi0ha1