New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-02

Thev are distributed ali over the country, every
shire having ono or more of them; the number de-
pendent on circumstances, such as the adaptaoiuV
of the ground for hunting, and also Tor haroonhg
foxes with the inclination of the resident gentry
and that of the peoplemOre especially Iarmers-ior
the sport Each pack has its own hunting district
with limits well defined and tacltly UNDERSTOOD us
taboo to any other And in all these are woods anu
coverts where Reynard is not only allowed 10 lNo
a short life but zealously propagated ana tehdery
nursed to be afterward torn TO pieces. Inc mum
Der of foxes annually killed in England by hounds
is something almost incredible; some of the packs
in a single season running down as many as I'LL
hundred. The sport N commences in the latter
part OF August, with what is called "cub-huntlns :
and often in the first month from wentyto thirty
brace Ct these Young foxes are caught and killed by
one pack: while on throughout the winter, up TIL
spring. one or more has to die on every hunting
day. But the supply is inpXhaustbe for when tne
native al Gle fails. pug is imported from aoroau'
France furnishing large consignments
As to the hunt itself, the mode of procedure Is rs
follows: On the day appointed for It, or rather 'he
day before the earthstoppers" OF the district 10
be hunted receive notice TO 40 their WORK; WHICH
consists in closing up the mouths OF all tne loN-
holes in their respective neghborhoods IL IS done
at night when Keynard is ranging abroad; and
returning home he finds the door OF MS own mousse
shut against him. and so is forced to seek tenn
porary resting-place above ground, among the
bushes Djslodged from this lair by the hounds, he
has no other resource than to run for 1T, and no
safety but in his swiftness of foot; unless, per-
chance he find some earth" neg,igently left I'M
stopped when he takes to it. But even this does
not ALWAYS avail him, as the burrOwDg terriers,
with spade and pick. are brought into play, easily
unearthing him, unless the place of bis retreat be
among rocks or the roots of tree. If he cannot
be dug out then the hounds are taken back 10
cover with the hope of finding a fresh fox ana
better luck in the chase of it. When the days
hunt is over the earihstoppers go their rounds
again. reopen the burrows, and so leave ihem.
A"meet" of foxhounds especially in enc of the
noted hunting shires, is a picturesque affair. ana
not very different from that of the staghounds al
ready described. Often there over an hundred
hcrsemen in scarlet" pink" as iguratively called
with the same motley array OF butchers. tavern
keepers and horse-dealers. Hunting farmers are
in greater numbers here; but these though
breeched booted and spurred. rarely put on the
pink" One appearing in a scarlet coat is deemed
something more than presumptuous. With the
foxhounds too there is usually larger following
of ladies' whose riding habits of various hues add
to the picturesquencss Of the assemblage. Some OF
them ride well up to hounds, from the llou-y
Tally-ho Gone awayw to the "Whoo- whoop"
announcing the kill If n lady be in at the DEATH
1t is CONNIE Il td for the huRtsman to present her
with the fox's brush; the pads" feet OF the
animal being also cut Oft and distributed among
those who may care for them.
much greater number of ladies follow hounds
now than formerly; the Empress OF Austria having
made it a fashion. But however it may be with the
Irish the farmers of Cheshire have no desire ever
TO see this Imperial Diana again. as her presence In
their county brought upon them an invasion of rough
riders from Manchester. Liverpool and other large
Lancashire towns. often to the number of 800,
breaking down their fences and trampling their
pasture fields into beaten paths Tney in fact dread
second vi it from her as pestiferOus lnfllction!
Time was when to he an NJ +. II. Master of Fox
houpdsl was esteemed the Plus ultra of honors;
al Office for which only men of patriclan birth were
eligible. 1t is not SO now, at least IN many OF the
shiIes. In of them masterships even go
teccjno. TO be taken up by anyone having the
inclination with the money--this last. or rather the
want of it, beng the key TO their present dlsiav"r'
And they are taken up, all over the country;
these modern NJ F. HIS affecting the ancient fox
hunting squire and playing the part III grauder
style than ever did he. For they not only contrib
ute largely to the support of the pack but give
sumptuous hunting breakfasts at their houses; the
elite inside ouafing claret and champagne, while
outside ON the lawn the hOi pOioi are RECALLED with
bread, beef and beer.
But though tox-hupting, as regards It's master
shin NAV not be what ID was IL is still a highly
aristocratic sport and the repute of having taken
part in it a thing of pride and boast even greater
than grouse Shooting stalking. As proof of
and illustrating this there is a phase OF life
supremely ridiculous-that of pretended fox hunt
ing. In London 1t exists where there ale houses
known as splashing houses" their mctter being 10
bespatter gentlemen dressed in hunting costume
with mud so that they may present the nselves at
their clubs or elsewhere as il just returned from
the hunting field! Nay more. these splashers even
deal with distinct kinds OF mud. as that OF North
ampton, should the gentleman wish to have it
thought lie has been hunting with the famed
Pytchley PACK, or the mud of Worcestershire If he
prefer to have been out with the not less famous
Quorn, | am positively assured that such estab-
Hslments exist; nor have any reason to doubt it.
Instead. the reverse; having myself known men IN
London to put shooting costume, and make
public appearance III it. vino er took cut game
license or carried gun, Others too who were
accustomed to show themselves late at night in full
dinner dress. us though they had been dining
ont" when they had only male frugal and soil
tary repast at some obscure chop-house.
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