Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-04-28
A HUNT IN FRANCE.
DESCRIPTION OF A RIDE AFTER THE
HOUNDS IN FAIR TOURAlNE

My chief enjoyment here is a daily visit
to the kennels. NJ. de Marolles has the
finest pack OF hounds for fifty miles
round, n the pride he takes in them ia
~unbounded. There is the keeper of the
hounds, who considers himself very
nearly, IL not quite, rs 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 of 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.
A few days after my arrival I was told
to prepare for a hunt the following morn
ing, and rs this would be my first expert
ence In the hunting field my excitement
was intense. At g o'clock on the morn
ing set for the event, | was reused from
my sleep by n loud noise, and a few mo
ments after, Celine, my maid, came hur-
riedly in with my warm water, saving
that the breakfast gong had just sounded
and that the horses were already in the
court yard. 1t did not take me very long
to don my habit, and l was down in the
dining hall almost rs early as the others.
The gentlemen wore their pink coats,
with bright horns slung over the shout
ders, their short riding breeches 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
ing the tip Of "A patent leather boot; we
all wore spurs, as well as our escorts, and
soft felt hats to match our habits.
A BIZ OF BREAKFAST.
This mornings dejeuner was a very diff
ferent n from the general first break
fast, as we could not tell at what hour we
would be able to lunch. There were cold
meats and eggs in every style, besides a
outlet for any one who desired it. The
gentlemen, / noticed, drank wine this
morning. instead of their cafe au isit.
The meet was to be at 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 a merry cavalcade as left
Montpoupon! Each one was in the hap
piest Of spirits, the air whizzed past us
with exhilarating keenness; the delight
full sensatiCS Of being in the saddle made
US all ready to enjoy ourselves TO the top
Of our bent.
Every one knows what q meet IS; how,
rs you draw nearer, you catch sight Of the
many bright coats moving slowly to and
fro, and see u motley crowd 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 around TO attend; and how de-
y Ntful the few m~5,Mcnts' chat is before
the start. The dogs, even, seemed to
know that good sport lay before them,
and IL was all the piqueur could do TO hold
them III leash; and when, at last, the sig
nal was given which set them free. the
howl q Joy they sent mp was almost pitt
ii. The tx broke tho right way and off
We g0ll0pcd, soon becoming scattered, as
&Ch took TIC cross road he believed 10 be
nc best; over FALLEN trees. across bitches,
md throu III brush, now and then lcarirg
strl2.n that wound through the forest;
IcL haviA; u good strip Of level ground
fArr2 we coNll Fat oar horses on their
1ctt!c, and then Il hale to listen to the
&llylns horns, and OF again in hot pur-
,uit.
DOwNrD TIL FOX.
We had a ruu of very nearly two hours
)elorc we downcd the fox. as the dogs lost
re scent ut one time and led US a chase
Yer many useless miles. My cousin and
/ were IN 1T Tie dean. and drew straws
or he brush. | wa, fortunate enough to
lin Il, and a few dqya later it was pre-
iented TO me handsomely mounted in
%'llIcr, ms q souvenir Of my first hunt in
fair France. The horns sounded the poor
toN'S end, and very shortly the s~tragglers
mad gathered round to see the dogs take
their reward.
We were invited 10 breakfast-it was
iunch, really-with Baron de Lastours,
whose Place lay nearest Us. and a ride of
four miles brought us to Chateau Mont
ioi, the baron's residence. 1t was a dear
little place, not pretentious in any re.
| spect, surrounded by beautiful grounds,
| and bull far more for comfort than for
| how. The stables were even finer than
the SO called c~hateau-it did not deserve
such Il grand name-and for a 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
found covers laid for about forty, and it
did not q much urging to make Us sit
down to the inviting repast. There were
not places at table for all, SO a 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,
and for the first time during my visit in
France l saw champagne drunk in prefer
| pnpa IN anv nj her uvina aftarpu,rl
learned it was decidedly n hunt breakfast
Observation-Disclosures in the Argo-
naut.