The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-01-23
A FOX HUNT IN ENGLAND
A VIVID ACCOUNT OF THE OUT.
DOOR SPORT OF THE RICH.
Training a Pack of Hounds-The
Party at a "Meet"-A Headlong
Chase-Reynard's Doom.

Chase-Reynard's Doom.
At Badminton, Worcestershire, on
the summit of the Costwold Hills, the
Duke of Beaufort has beautiful coun-
try seat with park of 20U0 acres filled
with deer. The Dukes eldest son, the
Marquis of Worcester, is the master of
three or four fine packs of hounds. The
keeping of these packs entails the neces-
sity OF having large stable of horses,
approaching close to 100. for riding
alone, as each rider employed as hunts
man and whipper-in will use two during
a run and no horse is used more than
twice week the employment of small
army of hostlers, one man to two horses
being considered about all he can attend
to- a coach to take the hounds to the
meet, which is often eight to ten miles
distant; a tally no to ride there in so
that the hunting horses can be sent ahead
to insure their being fresh, and a few
extra horses for guests.
Each hound is named and correct
pedigree kept, in some cases running
back do. en- generations. When pup
pies, they are tarmed out to farmers and
others living within six or seven mile
radius, where they are kept till year
old. They are then returned to the ken
nels and are put through a severe course
of training, principally by taking them
in the early morning cub hunting, which
is quite good sport. A copse or neck of
woods is drawn, and usually it is an
easy matter to make find. Under the
guidance of a couple of old hounds, the
young ones soon learn what is expected
nf tbpOn and hnppf,na flo apf rvhop oil
that is necessary to finish their education
is to develop their power of endurance,
which is something wonderful. One
thing that makes it comparatively easy
to find fox is that everyone who sends
in bill to the master OF hounds is paid
for any depredations that may have
been committed on their hen coops
The regular season opens in October
when postal from the kennels notifies
all subscribers to the pack where the
meets will occur for one week ahead.
1t was bright morning when the
writer attended meet at the Cross
Hands, large, rambling old hostelry
that in the time of stage coaches was a
bustling hotel, situated as it is at the in.
tersection of four old Loman crossroads.
By the time the hounds arrived
brilliant party was in waiting. Ladies
in their flowing habits although under
their outer garment they dress almost
like the men, even to wearing top boots),
gentlemen dressed in blue coats and
.yellowt topped shoes, with here and
there a bright red coat, a mark of dis
tinction- only allowed to tfe regular
patrons. Immediately on the arrival of
the hounds the place was turned into a
scene of bustling activity, as each rider
personally inspected the girths Of his
saddle, tightening them up, lengthening
or shortening the stirrup straps, etc. In
a few minutes all were in motion, going In
the direction of some furze bushes, which
was unsuccessfully drawn. A copse was
the next place visited and almost in
stantly Master Reynard broke cover in
full view. Then the hounds set up
cry, and were with difficulty beaten
back to give the fox fair start.
At last the horn blew, aud away they
went with rush. The riders follow,
and it doesn't take long to pick the
amateur from the experienced rider. For
the old hand, from the moment the
hounds are in full cry, he (and his horse
is full of life, every nerve in his body
tingling with excitement. At the start
he saves his mount all he possibly can,
knowing that he will be fully repaid if
it proves a hard run. But note the
exultation with which he or she cl ars
five barred gate, turning in his saddle
and looking with disdaln at the poor
amateur who has dismounted and is try
ing in vain to unlock it. AS the run
progresses. leading through heavy lands
along turnpike roads, an occasional view
is caught of the sly old fox, perhaps
running along on top of stone wall,
trying to ba lie the hounds so they will
lose his scent. The deep baying of the
pack is waited back telling us that the
scent is found again, and on we go
through a moat that surrounds an old
Roman encampment up to the high
ground, giving us view of beautiful
landscape. Master Reynard is COM
mencing to drag his brush now, and the
end is not far off. Our horses are get
ting pretty nearly blown, but still full !
of life; but we are little chary of TAX
ing hard fence. The doctor of the |
hunt "a thorough hunter-puts his horse |
TO hard gallop, and then that seems |
to be the signal for the small |
number of riders remaining to
follow suit. The ladies ride with their |
heads thrown forward, e, es set on the |
hounds, which are in plain view-a
living picture of life and animation. |
The fox runs on now, needless Of where
he is going, in vain effort to escape |
But his fate is sealed, and right in the |
shadow of an old farmhouse IN Old Sod /
bury, where Tyndale worked on trans
lation of the Bible and suffered rs a
martyr four hundred years ago, lac meets
his death. No one thinks of old asso-
Citations at@is time, but all dismouut,
IKE an aspen leaf from eXEte.
nent, and help keep the hounds at>bay
till the whipper-in cuts Off poor Rep
lard's brush and feet and divides the
trophies up among the few in at the
death. After the pack have ravenously
leyoured the remnants Of the fox we
'emount and slowly jog on our way
nome, tired but happy, with appetite
getted TO a razor edl aud topic for
,ur conversation that will last till we
nave another hard run.
1t is an unwritten law, which is never
that if fox gets away from its
,ursuers after any kind of a run, giving
he hounds a chance to rest and beat an.
'ther cover, and they uneaIth the same
gain, the hounds are beaten off aud the
OK goes free, having earned kis life by