, 1888-03-06
A HUNT IN FRANCE.
DESCRIPTION OF A RIDE AFTER THE
HOUNDS IN FAIR TOURAINE.

OF inc fOE-A souvenir OF the Hunt.
A Feast.
My chief enjoyment here is a daily visit
TO the kennels. NJ. de Marbles has the
finest pack Of hounds for fifty miles
round, and the pride he takes in them is
unbounded. There is the keeper of the
hounds, who considers himself very
nearly, If not quite, as good as his master,
and you have to ask this great person
ages permission before being allowed to
visit his charges, which, when he is in
good humor, he will show Off with as
much pride rs a mother her first baby.
These dogs have as regular meal hours as
the chateau guests, and their food is pre-
pared with the greatest of care, and only
given them in certain portions. No race
horse could have more attention Than
these hounds, and their coats are as
glossy and sleek as any finely groomed
colts.
2 A few days after my arrival I was told
to prepare for n hunt the following morn
ing, and as this would be my first expert
ence in the hunting field my excitement
was intense. At 6 o'clock on the morn
ing set for the event, l was reused from
my sleep by q loud noise, and a few mo-
ments after, Celine, my maid, came hur-
riedly in with my warm water, saying
that the breakfast o had Just sounded
tAANa AAAaAb az ANAoSo NAp lCud III LLlC
court yard. 1t did not take me very long
to don my habit, and I was down in the
dining hall almost as early as the others.
The gentlemen wore their pink coats,
with bright horns slung over the Shout
ders, their short riding brooches were of
tan colored corduroy, and with high boots
and spurs they looked ready for any
thing. The ladies wore the usual riding
habit, but made very short, hardly cover
inn fha fin pf N notpnt 1ontbar In,t, 49,,
all wore spurs, as well rs our escorts, and
soft felt hats to match our habits.
A BIT OF BREAKFAST.
This mornings dejeuner was a very diff
ferent one from the general first break
fast, us we could not tell ut what hour we
would be able to lunch. There were cold
meats and eggs in every style, besides d
outlet for any one who desired it. The
gentlemen, 1 noticed, drank wine this
morning, instead of their cafe au lait.
Tho meet was to be ut the four cross
roads in the forest, so we did not have far
to ride. Those of the chateau party who
did not care to follow on horseback came
on more slowly in carts and high car
riages. Such n merry cavalcade as left
Montpouponl Each one was in the hap
piest of spirits, tho air whizzed past US
with ~cxhilarating keenness; the delight
full sensation of being in the saddle made
us all ready to enjoy ourselves to the top
of our bent.
Every one knows what n meet IS; how,
us you draw nearer, you catch sight of the
many bright coats moving slowly to and
fro, and SEQ n motley Grove of carriages
and horsemen in n confused group, while,
n little apart, the hounds can be discerned,
guarded by the whips; how people come
from miles aroun to attend; and how de-
lightful the few moments chat is before
the start. Tho dogs, even, seemed to
know that good sport lay before them,
and it was all the piqueur could do to hold
them in leash; and when, at last, the sig
nal was given which set them free, the
howl of joy they sent up was almost pitt
full. The fox broke the right way, and Off
we galloped, soon becoming scattered, as
each took the cross road lie believed to be
the best; over fallen trees, across bitches,
and through brush, now and then leaping
n stream that wound through the forest;
then having a good strip of level ground
where we could put our horses on their
mettle; and then n halt to listen to the
rallying horns, and off again in hot pur-
suit.
DowNED TIE FOX.
We had a run of very nearly two hours
before we owned the fox, as the dogs lost
the scent at one time and led us n chase
over many useless miles. My cousin and
I were in at the death, and drew straws
for the brush. 1 was fortunate enough to
win it, and n few days later it was pro-
scented to me handsomely mounted in
silver, as a souvenir of my first hunt in
fair France The horns sounded the poor
fox's end, and very shortly the s~tragglers
had gathered round to see the dogs take
their reward.
We were invited to breakfast-it was
lunch, really-with Baron de Lastours,
whose place lay nearest us, inc n ride OF
four miles brought us to Chateau Mont
joi, the baron's residence. 1t was a dear
little place, not pretentious In any re-
spect, surrounded by beautiful grounds,
and built far more for comfort han for
show. The stables were even finer han
the so called chateau-it did not deserve
such q grand name-and for n while be-
fore the dejeuner, we admired the many
fine horses which were our hosts weak
nesses.
In a bright and airy dining room we
ound covers laid for about forty, and it
did not take much urging to make us sit
down to the inviting repast. There were
not places ut table for all, so u number
stood about the room, which added to the
merriment and did away with all cere-
mony. OF course, we were served with
everything that any gourmet could desire,
n for the first time during my visit in
France l saw champagne drunk in prefer
ence to my other wine 1 afterward
learned it was decidedly n hunt breakfast
beverage.-"L'Americainen in the Argo-
naut.
The Dog Washing Profession.
49,.