Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-27
MILDRED RussELLS LETTER
vys,r 70 FoNrAINEBLEAU.

-
asas- Works or Arr = An s"sfes'"'
Scene, ke.
epecial correspondence ofthe D'spetcn.l
PARIS, November, 1885.
rcntainebleau lies in scuthwesteriy
direction about two hours BY rail rom
Paris. II is long-drawn-out town
without animation or Distinguishing
characteristics Of its own, and resem-
Mes jpnumerable other small French
towns. Its forest and chateau, how
ever. are unique. The forest Of con.
siderable extent and the property 0,
the State is one Of the best known aud
explored in France, owing partly to Its
being near Paris, and, also, TO the ex-
ert;ons of a man named Dcpcncourt,
who PASSED his life in making thor
cuoh examination Of il. Part OF the
forest is pretty level and the other IS
very rough and rocky, 10 which II
ewes some Of its beauty, and
penepcourt Is said to have Wis
tied every nook Of both. He classi-
aed the trees, plants, and birds in II,
and by his own exertions, often with
cut authority, often in defiance OF ",
he opened roads and paths to the most
picturesque spots. Many Of the poets
literary men, and painters oil Paris, IN
grateful remembrance OF the pleasant
trips they were able TO make as a re-
sui, Of his undertaking, paid all sorts
homage 10 Denencourt. This perse-
yeripe man calculated the money he
had spent upon the forest, and, In
sluding his small private fortune, the
sale Of his guide-books, and an esti-
mate Of fly cents day for forty-two
years Of labor, it amounted to over
sixteen thousand dollars. Before
his time the edges of the forest
were almost impossible and given upto
poachers, few guards and wood-cut-
tiers, and hunters. The latter found 1t
difficult to get along the roads already |
opened on account Of their bad condi-
ton. After a time the authorities |
ceased frowning on him and turned
round and gave him considerable help. |
The people Of Fontainebleau take even
more pride in their forest than they do
in the chateau. 1t is place Of resort
for old and young, rich and poor, for
long drives and pic-nics, for walking
excursions suited to the robust,
and for shady spots where the
feeble and weary may sit and
sun themselves. 1t is near enough to
Paris for parties Of pleasure to come
out for the day and visit, and in the
fine weather numbers avail themselves
Of the opportunity. AT Whitsuntide
and few days before and after the l4th
Of July and other Partisan .fetes of the
people Fontainebleau is crowded with
visitors Of the weather. classes from
the city, who come out to escape the
holiday making. Then the prices at the
hotels rise to suit the occasion.
DETERMINING.
We went in carriage TO see the
in the forest, and appre-
slated the fine roads that are so ar
ranged at radiating angles that one
rentre commands view of many ways,
md enables others besides riders to
enjoy the sport. These roads are in
tersected by others, so that the whole
plan is as if the spokes Of a wheel
were criss.crossed in every direction.
This arrangement is common to other
French forests. The meet was very
pretty, though a small one. Most of
the hunters came in carriages and had
their horses sent on before. The Due
Of Bellune, in military uniform, with
The Duchess and their two little daugh-
ters, arrived in a landau, and an
English lady and gentleman in hunting
costume came in I cart. An English
girl about eighteen years old was on
and, being o little late, ar
rived at full speed, with her horse look
Ing as il it had already done half
days work.
STARTING.
There was the usual chatting and
going round to the various carriages to
give friendly greetings preparatory to
starting, just as is done in England at
. fox-hunting meet. Then the hounds
threw off on pretty good time.
These dogs are large without being
enormous and are the same kind as
Er slish fox-hounds. About fifty Of
them are in pack, some Of them are
kept in leash till the others are tired
out. As soon as the start is made 70
look for a deer the attendants and
hunters ride up and down the various
lanes near where they know the animal
is likely to be and search the ground
carefully to find the foot-marks made
in crossing. Our driver, an old servant
in the hunt, was enthusiastic on the
subject, and was delighted when he
found a track, and took pride in point
ing it out to the hunters as about
dozen Of them came up. The hunts
man wound his horn to give the
signal Of a first find, and then
some Of the riders went on to
the next turn in the lane so
as to get the other side Of the en-
closure and surround their prey. 1t is
almost impossible for the riders to 60
through the trees and brushwood they
arsobliged to leave this proceeding to
the dogs and content themselves with
galloping up and down the lanes aud
trying TO circumvent the deer. When
the dogs find a deer which leads them
in an opposite direction to that expected
by the main body Of the hunters the
attendants gallop off and give informa-
ton on the subject. We began to
be rather tired Of waiting one
day and had turned up one Of
the side-paths to explore little on our
own account, when thirty yards ahead
Of us q stag came bounding out Of the
trees ard crossed the road with the
pack Of hounds after him. II was q
pretty sight, and we had no compassion
for the hunted stag, for he was as fresh
% could be, but the hounds were fag'
ged and their tongues hanging out o
their mouths, though they were eagerly
pressing forward. None but ourselves
were to be seen, and our driver tool
the liveliest satisfaction in giving tn
Tally-ho," which is cried out b.
everyone who has . spark OF feelin
for the chase, so that all the rest ma
hear the game has been seen.
AN INTERESTING PILE.