Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1886-10-18

tense interest on discovering in my room at
- manor little card on which was prialt-
ed the time and place of the next meet.
Such cards of notification are sent about to
everyone of consequence, or anyone who is
likely to wish to ride.
Everyone who intends to ride must appear
early at the breakfast table, and the scene is
a most interesting one; the pink coats
charming variety and make many ordinary
looking people picturesque for the time be-
ing Only those whose station warrants
them can wear pink; occasionally a we'll to-
do farmer may be seen thus arrayed, but in
every case there is a tax of several pounds
year for wearing it; besides this there are
fees to keepe 3 and the like, and if any mans
country is too well ridden over. that is to say
if farmers crops suffer, it is always custo
mary to make up pun Je for him. Now and
then someone rebels against his ground being
used, and as the laws of the hunting field
are entirely unwritten ones it is difficult to
decide in such a matter; but the voice of the
people is always loud egainst anything which
interferes with the fox. I knew of one
where the animal was hunted across a lawn
and ge-den beds and killed almost at the
door of a rectory. The rector was not a
hunting man himself, but it never occurred
to him to object to his intrusion. Not only
does the interest taken in the sport affect the
results, but in the county itself makes
great difference.
The reasons, as 1 have suggested, are many
why hunting differs in differelG counties.
but chief among them is the scent. There
are some places whore, no matter how well
up to their work the hounds and officials are,
| it is almost impossible to get up good scent.
Both the climate and the ground have to do
with this, and nothing can be accom-
plished unless the fox is started, and as he
cannot be started or 'found" without the
scent, it may easily be seen of what impor-
tance this is. One will see at a country
house a doleful expression settling down
upon more faces than one if the air be not
favorable, and if a frost comes up suddenly
how wretched all the company can appear,
for frost is the death of good sport.
There's tone i I the wind which seems clearly to
We shall soon go hunting-hurrah, boys hurrah. !.
Whoever wishes to ride goes to the place
appointed as meeting, generally some short
time in advance of the hour; but promptly
on time the huntsman, the whips and the
hounds arrive. The masters appearance is
eagerly looked for and it is beautiful sight
to see the hounds welcome him. | think the
prettiest picture I ever saw connected with
this sport was the assembling of the South
Devon pack one clear autumn morning. AS
the master rode into the field the hounds
rushed forward and settled themselves Oh
their launches in circles around his horse.
As far as the eye could see the country was
rich and beautiful, with enough of wood,
to make the picture we'll worth remember
ing, and in the field the hunting party were
waiting their word of command. 4his Civ
en-, off they started to ''draw'' the wood to
the left. On this day, delightful were ali
the elements-a combination which seemed
to insure success-there was not a fox to be
found, and it was rumored that at the next
meeting what is called "bagman" would be
brought. This term is applied to a fox
which is brought in bag to the hunt and
then let out and away-a kind of hunting
much despised by genuine sportsmen.
Those magical words, ''In at the Geath!"
how seldom are they used satisfactorily But
since the animal has to be run down this is
fine sight. As a general rule the huntsman
or one of the men seizes the fox as soon as it
is killed and holds it high above the bounds,
whose notes of triumph are tremendous.
When it is quite certain that all have seen
it the body is thrown to the dogs and quick
ly devoured, the ''brush" or tail being pre-
sented to the first lady on the spot.