The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-04-27
A LIVELY EXPERIENCE.
The Truth About Fox Hunting by
One Who Has Given It Up.


'.My dear fellow, it's most awfully good
OF you; awfully kind But IL make it "a
rule never to hunt another mans horses
never" | sit back in my chair as say this
to Pudgewoo1, whose guest | am, and as
sumo look which ought to convince him
that | am making a sacrifice to principle
which causes me profound regret and dis
appointment; but somehow he doesn't
seem to believe it,
Nonsense, Jonesw he says. "I'll give
sou The old gray; he's The quetest hunter
j have in the stable. Steady as house,
and as clever on his legs as a cat. ! defy
you TO bring that horse down, sir!n he con
cludes, with an emphatic thump on the din
ner-table.
Now, strictly between ourselves, it had
never occurred to me that there was the
least likelihood of my bringing the horse
down. Well-founded apprehensions lest it
should bring mcdown prompt my disinclina-
tion to accept Pudgewood's offer: but of
course it isn't necessary to tell him that.
was speaking the truth when told him
that / made ii Il rule never to hunt another
mans horses; ] made that rule long ago,
and, never having hitherto met any one
who tempted me to break il, have
found no difficulty in adhering to it.
When l told Mrs. Jones to accept the
Pudgewoods' invitation to spend q week at
their place in Stoneshire quite forgot that
Anthony Fudgewoood was one of those few
hunting-men who are generous enough to
mount their friends Had l remembered
the fact, should have come to Barnsdale
with sprained wrist, or something which
would etfectually prevent man attempting
to ride 1t is quite obvious that Fudge
wood won't be put off by my plea OF "priu-
ciple;" so / must try another argument.
Il don't ike refusing your offer, Fudge
wOod,' say; land should have enjoyed
day with the hounds immensely, but have
brought no riding things with me-" That
ought to be conclusive, think. But no.
Pudgewood casts critical eye over my
figure, and says thouGhtfIly: my clothes
wouldn't III You, I'm afrad.-But George
you remember my brother George left all
his hunting kit here, and he is just the same
build as you are I'll lend you some Of his
thingsn
Every loophole of escape seems 10 be clos
ing up | cast an appealing look at my
wife, who is sitting opposite me. she is
clever woman, Mrs. Jones, though / say it:
wonderfully ready, and of boundless re-
source. l give her a glance which is in
tended to convey Help me out of il - but
she fails to grasp my meaning, and helps me
lltJle Iuflner lnlO IL.
when Mr.. PudSewood is so kind as to
offer yOu mount, Algcrnon, | really think
you ought to takeit," she says.
"Quite right, Mrs. Jones'" assents Pudge-
wood. II shouldn't like your husband to 20
away from Barnsdale without having IL
gallop with the StOneshire hounds. ! know
how fond of hunting he is; he has often told
me OF his doings"
Things are growing worse. I'm afraid |
must have given PudgewoOd wrong i'm
preston when talked to him about hunt
ing. My experience of the sport of kings
has been that of an onlooker from the seat
Of dog-cart. used to enjoy that thor
oughly, particularly the lunching part of
the days business when | was staying up
in Yorkshire last winter | have some
times been for a ride along the road but
never rode TO hounds in my life and
ought to have mentioned the fact, which
PUdgewOod does not appear TO be ac-
quainted with | wish there weren't so
many people PRESENT; / really have no; the
courage to eAplain how | have gained the
knowledge Of hunting matters which have
been airing so freely all dinner-time before
such crowd. II would look too foolish.
SIN desperately afraid that it's going to
freeze tonight" said a young gentleman,
drawing aside the window-blind as soon as
horribly clear"
The remark is received with chorus Of
indignant dissent, in which / join feebly.
Every body has good reason TO believe that
IL won't freeZa; the thermometer has been
rising, and the barometer has been steady
al day. There's a souta wind; and Jinks
the hrst whip, said only yesterday that
there wouldn't be frost again for a fort
night. Jinks appears TO be an infallible
authority on the weather, judging from the |
manner in which his opinion is quoted and |
received. Every body is soothed by the an !
nouncement: and we draw in our chairs,
directing scorIful glances at the upstart |
who took upon himself to look out of the |
windoY, and who now relapses into snubbed |
silence breathe an inward prayer tor at |
least ten degrees of frost, and try not to
hate the unknown J.nlis. Tat is my one |
hope now; IL IL freezas | am saved; If it |
doesn't
j must confess there is something about !
huntingdon which gives the wearer feel |
ing of confidence; aud as | stand before the
mirror in my dressingrocm this morning, |
rigged out IN George PudgewoOd's buck |
skins and top-boots which ft me admirably, |
] begin qu;;e 10 look forward TO the days |
outing 1t didn't freeze last night; on the |
contrary. there was a little rain, so the |
ground will be toleraby soft If | meet with |
al accident
Il wisa you had a red coat" says my wife |
who has come 10 inspect me; ''auG--I may |
be wrong--but talrk, Algernon, you have
pu; yolr spurs on upside down"
Mrs. Jones' faober was noted hunting |
man iI the shires aud she ought 70 know |
something about these matters.
'upar me! SO have. Thanks for MOTTO
ing it. III put them right at once"