The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-01-09
.woNDeRFUL FOX HURTING.



/ of the Baltimore Dudes.
| The dudes near Baltimore who have
apack of hounds, and indulge in fos
hunting, are incensed against an old
farmer who interfered with their sport
not long ago. The fox hunters are
wealthy young men, who own the finest
thoroughbred horses that money can
buy. and having nothing to do but kill
time and foxes, life has been one con-
tinued round of pleasure to them until
last week. Up to that time they had
chased foxes, caught up with them in
due course of events, and seen the dogs
tear the foxes in pieces, while the young
man who arrived on the scene first took
the ''brush," or tail of the animal, and
rode with it in triumph to Baltimore
On the day that the trouble occurred
| the dogs had started a fox and the fox
hunters were riding after it in great
shape, each man dressed in English
style, with red coats, corduroy trousers
and plug hats. The fox and dogs and
hunters passed field where an old
farmer was blowing. He used to be a
boy himself, and when he heard the
dogs bowling. and saw the fox run
ming for dear life, and the sports fol-
lowing, the old mans blood was up.
He unbuckled the traces that held the
pillow, jumped on the mule, and stick
ing his heels into the mules sides
and mauling the animal with whip.
was soon even with the relocated
hn ln1 itrn
panther the hair on the heads of the fox
hunters raised their plug hats right off.
The boys looked around in amazement,
and when they saw the old farmer on
the rnule, passing their thoroughbred
horses it seemed as though they would
sink down and die. The harness rat
tied and sounded like dray horse run
ming away, the traces flew around so
that there was danger the young men
would be Knocked off their horses. the
mule put his head down and passed the
red coats, while the old man, hatless,
his white hair streaming in the wind.
and his hickory shirt and butternut
pants and bare feet, made picture that
the young Baltimore orioles did not
enjoy. The old man took the lead.
went over fences. and when the mule
could not jump fence it would run
against it and knock it down. Come
on. boys" shouted the old man, as he
rode ahead. and the boys tried to come
on. but it seemed As though thorough
bred horses were no match for the wild
mule. and the old man ran amongst the
dogs, passed them. and had the fox
corraled in fence corner when the
dogs and the red coats came up, and as
the pack bounced upon the painting fox
the old man dismounted and secured the
brush, while the mule laid down with
the harness on. and got up and began
10 eat thistles, as though it had only
been taking a bit of exercise. while
the thoroughbreds were painting
and blowing. and nearly dead. The
sports We're paralyzed at the gall of the
farmer. the endurance and speed of the
mule, and the general righteousness of |
the scene. and when the old farmer |
took the brush and got on fence and |
mounted his mule, after hitching up the |
dragging harness so il would all STAY on |
till he got home, and said: -'Wall. |
boys. come out again some day and |
will have some fun with you, cause YOU
durn fellers won't let man work when
he wants to-" and rode OH, there was
silence for minute. and all the sports
looked as though they wanted to die
Finally. the master of the hunt. after
the farmer over a hill, broke
the silence by saying: well, | be
iurned.'' and the procession of red
coats started for Baltimore by the
'traightest road, each regretting that he
lad not brought gun with which to
lave killed that mule when the farmer
irst showed up. They did not tell the
tory when they got home, but the
armer was in Baltimore the next day
o sell some potatoes. and while inqu;r-
ng for the sports, to tell them where
hey could trade their horses for some
pretty good average mules. the story
anne out. and the fox hunters are not
o be found at their usual haunts. 1t
vas mean in the farmer, but farmers
ave so little fun it is not to be won
cred at that they mix in when occasion
Sun.
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