Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-09-30
MUSIC OF THE HOUNDS.
The Hunts in New York Prepari ng
for Work.

Perhaps If there is any one of our Out-of-dOor
sports that Is distinctivey English, it Is fox
hunting. If there is any pastime that combines
great mental excitement with physical exer-
tion it is this same invigorating sport which
the dOwn-country squire, with his rector beside
him and his rosy-cheeked daughters we'll to the
FORE enjoys cross the country of England
There are number of gentlemen residing in
and about New York city who seek relaxation
from business and find it while astrde q
good goer and fencer and behind a pack OF
hounds. Long Island is a country peculiarly
adapted to hunting, as it has no marked eleva-
tions and the surface of the ground is covered
by soft loan into which a horses hOOfs strike
with deliciously suggestive thud. There have
been three associations organized within the
past few years. the object of which is foX-hunt-
ing. These organizations are known as the
Meadow Brook Club, the Rockaway Hounds
and the Queens County Hunt. They are all OF
| them wealthy in club houses. horses and
hounds, and the fame of their pleasures has gone
so far forth that the membership is rapidly in
creaSng. at first the masters of the hunts eX-
perenced some little trouble with the farmers
over whose fields they rode, but after short
time by diplomatic distribution of dollars and
of presents, the agriculturists were persuaded
to close their eyes to the footprints OF the
horse and their ears to the music of the hounds.
The meetings of the association have now be-
come social events, and many are the enjoyable
features of race over fields of stubble and pas
ture other than being sin at the DEATH"
The season began on September 16, when the
ROckaway Hunt had its first meet at Wave
Crest, l.. l. The sport will continue until the
ground freezes and then the hunters and the
hunted will be at rest The past season, away
back into the springtime. has been very enjoy.
able because of the delightful weather which
j has been the particular charm of this year
Many additions have been made to the kennels
OF the CLUBS, and the stables have been aug
mented by some capital thOroughbreds. Both
the hounds and horses are in splendid cOndi-
| ton, and from these indications it is more than
probable that October and November this year
will be red-letter months in the annals OF
foX-hunting in this country. Long Island
is divided into two sections. one OF
which is allotted to the Meadow Brook club.
the other to the Rockaway Hounds. The men,
bers of the first-named club ride on the Stewart
property ABOUT Garden City, and the huntsmen
OF the second claim the right to gallop over
what are known as the southern fields, from
BelmOre to Jamaica. The Queens County Hunt
and hence when its members ride on Long
whose courtesy they accept. Last year they
were given the western part of the Meadow
Brook country by the Meadow Brook club. and
in several instances the members of both clubs
held meetings on the same day and hunted over
the same country.
The autumn hunting of the Meadow Brook
club will begin early in October. The hounds
belonging to the club are i'm excellent order and
the working pack now number fifteen couple
five Of which have been raised in the Meadow
Brook kennels.