The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1885-09-12
FARMERS COLUMN
70, Hprtlps IN III, united s,,t,,.

FOX Hurting in the United States.
The horse demanded by fox hunters,is
rarely found among thoroughbreds; but
by crossing thoroughbred stations upon
stong, cold-blooded mares. after two or
three crosses, an animal is produced,
which will carry heavy man across the
country, taking fences and dltcIies with
ease, and keeping well up With the
hounds. Thus we have the English
hunter as an almost distinct breed of
horses-not entirely distinct, however,
for there must be constant recurrence TO
the race horse, for courage, endurance
and nerve, which can be perpet6ated by
and obtained from no other source.
Not only does fox hunting develop the
highest qualities in these two races Of
our domestic animals, but its value in
developing high qualities in man, is not
TO be underrated. In those countries
where the young men of the higher
classes are not given to such sports and
pastimes as develop thoroughly their
physical powers, the wealthier classes
become efete and degenerate, Military
exercises tend to overcome this, but
effect comparatively few, while in Great
Britain, the national sport of riding to
hounds" makes men, not only of the
sons of the nobility, but Of thousands of
y ung men and women whose wealth
makes them independent of manual
labor as a necessity,
To be good horseman, or horse
woman, for both sexes indulge In this
sport, requires and induces health, vigor,
nerve, GOODNESS, gool judgment, pluck
and enthusiasm. These qualities, which
cannot be too greatly valued, are devel-
oped in a high, perhaps in the highest
degree, by fox hunting as practiced in
almost all parts of Great Britain and
Ireland, hence it is with pleasure that
we see fox hunting according to the
Englishrules and practice, rapidly grow
ing in favor in this country. The fox
himself, according to modern practice,
really plays an inconspicuous part. Were
| the hunt from the first TO be genuine
one, in all those parts of the country
where foxes are rare, or have been en-
tirely oXterminated, as they have been
from some limited sections, for example,
upon Long Island, n. Y, or upon the
Island of Rhode Island tNewport), there
would either be no sport, or If foxes
were caught and brought thither, the
hunt would be very brief one, lacking
interest in all important particulars. 1t
is really very tame sport, in fact, no fun
for any participants except the dogs,
when the poor little fox is quickly run
down, and set upon by pack Of fresh
hounds. Hence scent-bag is dragged
across the country for several miles, so
that both dogs and hunters are tolerably
well blown, when suddenly Reynard,
who has been confined in box, is
liberated. lie quickly takes in the situ-
alton, makes the best of his opportunities
to gain cover of some sort. The psight
of him, and the fresh real scent, gives
fresh yigor AMI tongue" to the pack,
and excites the hunters, who now have
a real object in view, to the exercise of
all their skill. The "brush," or tail,
becomes the reward of him or her, who
is first ''in at the DEATH" while the
"mask," or skin of the head the "pads,"
or skin of the launches, and the thus
mutilated pelt, go to others, and so ends
the fox hunt, unless. indeed, grand
supper and dance in the evening, be
considered the real ending. Ag,i-
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