Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1881-03-02
NY FIRST AND LAST FOX HUNT,

Wide AtCUke,
NY FIRST AND LAST FOX HUNT.
'Please, sir, are these for you
1t was my man who spoke, and as he
did so, he held up for inspection an i'm
maculate pair of "tops" in one hand and
pair of painfully new breeches in the
other, while his countenance wore IN ex.
preston of mingled fear and astonish-
ment.
With an inward sinking at my heart
turned from my morning paper and cut
let. and having nodded gloomy assent
to his query, said, "That will do, James;
lay them on the sofa.'
The above conversation took place in
my bachelor apartments in the Albany,
and the reason for the appearance there
in of the aforesaid tops and breeches I
am now about to explain. I am not a
hunting man. never could see any
joke in humping about on hard piece
of pigskin in pursuit of a draggled piece
of vermin called fox, although some
people say the fox enjoys the fun. It is
all very well for those who like it; and
Mr.. Jorrics of immortal memory may
call hunting "the sport of thing s-the
image of war without it's guilt and only
Is per cent. of its danger" if he like,
but I conf ess can't see it in that light.
It was with feelings the reverse of pleas
ant, therefore, that I received and &C.
copied an invitation from Sir Harry Bull
finch to stay week at his "box in
Warwickshire, and avail myself of his
hospitality and a mount with the re-
nouned pack which hunted that country.
I pas urged to this acceptance of what
in my saner moments should have in
dignantly treated as a practical joke by
slight attack of the master passion.
l met Sir Harry and his daughter Kate
in London, during the past season. We
had frequently met at various balls and
entertainments, and on several occasions
had enjoyed the balmy fragrance of
Bushy park and the still delights of
boat on the upper reaches of the Thames,
but with my natural timidity had never
ventured to ask the question which was
forever on the tip of my tongue, but
never got farther. The Invitation held
ont promises of quiet tete.a-tetea, so T
electrified my tailor and bootmaker with
orders for the necessary "togs' with
which to carry on the campaign.
l remembered having somewhere
heard or read that in order to acquire an
easy and graceful seat on horseback, sit
ting astride on chair and holding on by
the back was excellent practice, SO, hav-
ing called James and given him most ex-
press instructions to deny me even nv
most intimate friends, I proceeded to
struggle into perhaps the tightest pair
OF cords that were ever made for mortal
man, and, with the aid of brandy and
soda and couple of boot hooks, to pull
on pair of boots which nearly gave me
a fit of apoplexy and made my corns
burn for hours. Armed with cutting
whip, then mounted astride the strong
est chair in the apartment, and con-
tinued the exhilarating exercise with the
frmness of stole and martyr, and
with only one interval for luncheon.
throughout the entire day.
My train left the Great Northern sta
ton at 4:30, and landed me safely at my
destination. In due course found N.Y.
self seated next to the fair Kate, with nv
legs comfortably stretched under Sir
Harry's mahogany.
II suppose our dull country pack will
seem quite second-rate affair to you,' -
said Kate.
[ was murmuring something in reply,
when Sir Harry out in with:
"Ah! I've got splendid mount for
you Tomorrow, my boy! A trife playful,
perhaps-hasn't been hunted yet this
season, but will carry you like bird"
"Oh, yes, said Kate, i" Gear is such a
nice creature"
"Indeed!" said I. 81 am reiojced to
hear it. OF course you accompany us to
the meet?'
Yes" she replied, "and papa has
said that, as you we're going out, / might
even follow the hounds q little way.
You'll look after me, won't you MIR. De
Boots?''
[ promised to do my devoirs, but in
my heart of hearts thought I should re-
quire some one to look after me.
The following morning at breakfast
which was earl y on account of our hay
ing to go some distance to the meet, the
horses were brought round-a sturdy.
thick-set, quiet-looking weight-car rier,
neat-looking gray mare, and bright
hdgety chestnut. The latter gave his
attendant groom some trouble, and in
sisted on waltzing around on his hind legs
a good deal more than appeared to me to
be necessary.
"I'm afraid your papa will find that
animal rather troublesome, I remarked
to Kate.
"That," she answered, sob, that's
not papa's-that's the one you are going
to ride-Czar."
Ny appetite left me, and as rose and
walked in as unconcerned manner as
could assume to the window, j saw that
Gear had reversed the order of things by
putting his head between his fore legs
and flashing out with his heels in very
vicious-looking and anything but "play-
full manner.
A general move was now made to the
front door. Kate looked at me and evil
IDENTIFY expected me to "put her up"
but [ knew better than to attempt it,
and pretended to be intent on buckling
strap of pair of spurs Sir Harry had
lent me until she was safe in the saddle.
Gear was then brought up for me to
mount, which, after several abortive at
tempts on my part, I effected, and we all
logged on towards the meet. Contrary
to my expectation Gear behaved in q
most exemplary manner, and I even ven
tured' to swing my whip with iaunty
air without his taking the slightest no.
tice. But it was too good to last. Pres
emily a red coat popped out on us from
a by-lane, and the Cars ears began to
witch. Two or three more horsemen
overlook us, and his tail began to de-
scribe circles, and he proceeded on his
way with crab-like movement, which
was anything but elegant and eminently
disconcerting -, -
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