Morning journal and courier., 1889-10-29
FOX HUNTING IN AmRRIoA

A Revival of the sport in Which
 George Washington Used to Take
 Pleasure.
 [rrom Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly.l
 An interesting phase of the taste for hear ty outdoor pleasures developed within the last few years is the formation of country clubs and the revival of fox hunting. There are now several of these institutions, and the amusement is so robust, exciting and picturesque that 8 taste for 1t will naturally spread. Indulgence in the sport is not a mere temporary whim, founded upon the ab- surd Anglomania which has been so exagger- ated, but is due to c genuine liking for what is one of the manifest of old time diversions, which in colonial times was considered the master of all others.
 The origin of the sport of fox hunting is, like many other things, lost in the mists of time, but it Is spoken of in writings of the time of Richard II. The amusement was then, however, thought of inferior charac- ter, and the animal did not rank with those of nobler growth. Chaucer devotes few lines to the sport, but through them there breathes no enthusiasm.
 In primitive fox hunting clubs were un-
  fered by the depredations of the animal agreed to go out and hunt him down; others found it to their interest to join in the pur- suit; so gradually there were county organi- zations. By degrees what was at first ssri- GUS work came to assume the character of a recreation, and although the hounds were but common dogs, they acquired a special and valuable training for the duty. In those times the hunters met at dawn; but this lad nk1 the fact that they were required to ride to the fox run as we'll; prowling all night and feeding himself generously, he is neither so active mentally or physically as after a morn. ing's rest.
 In colonial days the amusement was fol- lowed passionately in Maryland and the South. The porch of the houses of planters, we are told by the historian, was always crowded with fo1Lounds. A foadness fol field sports was naturally universal charac- teristic, and picture is drawn of the Gold marster" going out after the dogs with his gouty foot swathed in bandages. Ladies rode to hounds as they do now. George Washington rose at five .. T. to follow the dogs.
 The huntsnan of these days always had { pride in his horse and his dog. He gave them pet names and felt tho importance oi tAolE QC0lkI00s AA5AoS SAo1AoA3 oWSoo htHbj Bell Tongue, expressed in certain way the impression which hounds cries made upor the huntsman's ears of crisp, frosty morn ing, when tho scent could be followed breast high, and every echo was doubly repeated by wood and hill. The Maryland fexhound hac such hard work to do that he needed botf size and toaghness, and these were obtained by crossing the English foxhound with thu Irish stag hound, and sometimes by an alli k 4A n wiry qualities and the ease with which h. manoeuvred through brambls and under growth. The product was not handsom beast, bat bow-legged creature, dewlappet and dull-eyed, roguish and crineing, bu cunning as the animal he was trained t chase, of immense endurance, with voic of volume and real melody, and nose rare l ly fsllible, unless, indeed, the boys and ne l groes on the plantation had spoiled him b surreptitious rabbit chasing.
 The soil has much to do with success an, enjoyment in fox hunting. It should b