Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-10
TALLY-HO!
The Humbug of Stag and Fox Hunting
in ENGLAND.

III Eng lanus
A stag hunt in England, Judged by thos
who have not been reared in the blind uu
questioning faith of that shibboleth, say
London letter to the New York San, i
tame if not a peuriIe affair.
1t may be ushered in by huntin!
breakfast at some OppOrtunely place,
country seat. The mistress of the house
abjuring all fastidiousness, has to opel
her sacred portals to a mixed host O
strangers; her Turkey carpets are trod
den by the unregenerate hObnailet
shoe OF the tenant farmer; her ma
tuunal board Is spread with incOngruOu
heavy Ylands and multifarious Ii
quors, although it is doubtful whethe
game pie and champagne are the mos
suitable stlrrup cup for man who has Il
ride straight Immediately afterward
Conyeyances of all kinds pillow up tn,
trim, grand approaches; horses led ant
horses ridden, hunters with their clothins
and packs without, stamp out the velvetl
smoothness of the lawn, aided by the un
easy shutiiing of the pack within sight O
the dlnlng-roOm windows, while glasse.
oil strong waters and other refreshments
are brought out to those who, in virtu,
OF their office, are debarred from sharing
In the hospitality within. After mucf
unnecessary and futile delay, no
unmlXed with apparent hurry, the
company mounts and starts for the
meet. This is another seemingly pur
p0seless ceremony, as the meet is never
on the spot where the actual business O
the day begins. In the vicinity of some
farm or rural hOstelry the bulk of the
sp0rtsmen assemble, as we'll as the drags
lFn1lgG
which carry the slghtseers. There WraDs
and greatcOats are repudiated. The hacl
is exchanged for the hunter. who has beer
carefully conveyed to the trysting-pIace
ana the men appear in all the glory o
their full hunting costume. But let it no
be supposed that the much-vaunted piul
is general. Every combination is repre-
sented, from the entire and spotles.
tOggery of scarlet coat, white cords, TOP
boots, pipe-clayed riding whip, tall black
anomalous hat, bound to the collar by
string, to the c0rdurOys and stout fustiar
OF the farmer, and the hybrid attire o
Dreeches, CATERS, and black cutaway
jacket OF the casual sportsman, the nov
ice, ana mob, who are not members of the
hunt. Some packs do not hunt in pink al
all, but there are always some energetic
outriders who cannot forego the tempta
ton of making spots of color on the
pl0Wed helds or green slopes.
When at last every one is mounted
when the groOms have ostentatiously
settled the habits and stiTrups of ladies
and seen to the bits of their masters
when good many calls have passed be
tween the master and the whip; when
the hounds have been VariOusly apOstro
phized by their individual baptisma-
names, the ''feld' gets into motion once
more and leisurely ambles for mile OF
two down the wintry lanes, followed by
the string of carriages. Suddenly a
curious OBJECT coming in sight stops the
procession. 1t is small cart drawn hv a
dImlnutive pony, and bearing a wooden
erection in shape like an exaggerated
camera. 1t has round holes at the sides and
folding doors at the back. A sad looking
man stands at those doors. At a signal
from the master he draws bolt and they
ny open. For while nothing comes OF
TINS ceremony; then by dint Of little
coaXlng and pulling, a quiet, dignified
beast calmly steps out of the camera. II
is the stag. He looks about him serenelv:
one is almost tempted to believe that he
nods TO some more familiar face in the
assembly, for he shakes his head, and
then, apparently reminded of his duty bv
a friendly hint from his attendant. starts
at a hand gallOp across the nearest
meadow. A dead silence ensues. The
master pulls out his watch and is lost in
calculations. He knows all the stays by
name, also their procliyities and DISPOSE
tlOn, and allows them accordingly more
or less grace. When he judges that the
cali" for that is his mildly-suggestive
sODrIquet, has had sufficient advance he
starts the pack, and instantaneOuslv the
Whole field goes streaming behind the
mounds after perfectly invisible object.
Inc compact phalanX is, however,
promptly broken up, and strangely
straggllng sight the pursuers present.
All the spectators stand up in their con-
Veyances and strain their gaze toward
the ridge of hills over which the last
sportsman has disappeared. the sad-look-
ing man whips his pony and drives off the
camera III the direction which long expe-
renee has taught him his particular
charge has taken, and some knowing spir-
It's follow in his wake. For an hour or so
nothing is seen or heard save spasmodic
cries OF They are cOnIingV which always
prove deceptive, and nothing is seen but
the desultory appearance of riders from
opposite directions, who pretend they
nave lost the scent in seeking a
snort cut, and make furious Onsets at
low hedges to prove that their secession
is IN no way attributable to prudence.
In many cases the use of the string
uniting the tall hat to the coat collar is
made patent, for the headgear is seen
humping up and down somewhere in the
middle OF the back, while suspicious
patches of clay or stains of wet tell of a
spill" Here it may be observed that an
Engllshman is infinitely more proud of
being thrown often, of having suffered
from dangerous falls, Of being picked out
OF brook or ditch, and extrieated from I'M
der his horse than of remaining in the
saddle; he seems to look upon his sscrop-
Ders" as redounding to the credit of his
riding, and he is so confident of their re-
currence that he insures himself against
the consequences and finds it a profitable
investment.
After an uncertain time a rumor gets
about among spectators and straggiers
that the deer has been caught. Maybe
the event has been ACCOMPLISHED in 2
washhOuse, china shop, back kitchen.
a farmyard, or the intelligent beast. hav.
ing had enough exercise for the day. has
trotted back to his stable on wheels. ANY,
how, the folding doors of the camera are
closed upon him once mere. he is driven
back to his quarters, and, if time permits.
an exactly similar camera is prOdueed
and another Hcalt'' sent out on his little
excursion with the same results. None
of these stalled stays hunt more than
once in six weeks, and MUNICH the hav OF
glorious repOse during the intervals. II
sometimes happens that one of them falls
prey to the pack, but it is considered a
disgrace to all parties concerned. a dire
mlsmanagement, and a national calamity.
Such is the ungarbled aspect of a pas
time which is passion for the men and
women of England, to which they devote
four days out of six through the long
months of the hunting season. for which
they crave during the on time, and which
unites in the same pursuit girls in their
teens, fathers with large families. uniyer-
sity scholars, and gray-headed, almost in
firm old men.
Fox hunting, with the exception that
there is less riding across country. more
time lost in finding that the quarry is
killed in a disgusting manner. and that
the brush is presented as a graceful and
delicate compliment to the most honored
lady present, offers few variations. To
speak otherwise than with reyerent words
and deep respect of those institutions Is.
am we'll aware, rank hIasphemy: but if
requires long instruction and a trained
acceptance Of these dogmas to see hunt
Ing in England with the eyes OF the British
sportsman and to invest it with the heroic,
manly spirit which its votaries Law a
claim to.
AT THE recent sale of the library of the
late Mr.. Meek, of Brantbridge Park. in Eng
land, a. series Of nineteen letters, written
bY Lord Byron to his mother during his trav-
ann f.fQ A