The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-12-14
The Royal Pack Which Chases
Trained Deer.
ToMFooLERY AND EXPENSE.
Both Surround an English Custom, Whic
is Merely Relic Of the
Dim Past.

lerValS as people can De IOunQ Wiling TO
its exactions and enjoy its pleas
ures. To be sure. the enjoyment is mostly
fancy, for it is little more than mock
chase, if they do have real deer and pack
of fine hounds to drive them over the fields.
l believe there are hundred and twenty
dogs in the Queens pack, or what may be
more properly called the royal pack, for
the stag hounds are as much of part of
the official household as any other of Its
many departments. Years ago the royal
hunt was very significant affair and was
attended with great pomp or show, but like
all other sports of the field in this coun-
try, it has shifted with years into what
many Englishmen look upon as farce
Yet, doubt whether the average Britisher
ii he were consulted, would consent to dis
pense with the royal kennels, for they are
u feature of the old tlme life that seems to
them half sacred. The love of sport is SO
bred in the bone with the English people
that they still want to keepup all the re-
mindcrs of these old times so many years
ago when they had wild game TO hunt,
which is no longer the case except on some
of the ranges in Scotland. That is the
reason why the Queen keeps her stag
hounds, and has hunts every fall for the
deer that are bred for the purpose are fit to
run well. They are tame enough to give
little evidence of that delightful sport
which always goes with the chase after the
wild buck or doe, but that does not matter
if all the other conditions for the royal
hunt are satisfactory.
Ascot is a delightful part of England and
lies south about thirty miles from London.
For this old country 1t is a well-wooded
region with plenty Of open fields and many
| typical scenes unite to make Gay over the
country delightful one, even if dogs and
deer are not added to the ride over the
| fields. Besides beautiful pictures of charm
| ing country side life great race course is
at Ascot, and thoroughbred horses meet
every year there in some of the most
famous contests of the world. There are
other surroundings which make it SPLEEN
did place for the spotted beauties that are
called the Queens hounds. They are bred
| of the best blood and kept well fed and well
exercised just to perpetuate an old time
custom which has been handed down to
them many, very many generations. If il
is farce now, it is one TO which those who
pay the taxes do not object and L doubt if
there would not be much dissatisfaction if
her majesty or her lord chamberlain should
undertake to dispose of the dogs and dis
continue the royal hunt, which is held in
the fail after the leaves begin to turn and
the crops are harvested. Then the farmers
do not object TO seeing a lot of fancifully
dressed ladies and gentlemen riding at
breakneck speed after the flying deer tax
ing fall now and then, while jumping the
fences, and getting new inspiration from a
day of glorious exercise,
1t is needless 10 say that the Queen does
not hunt. She never did because of it's
dangers. Nevertheless the royal pack is
kept up just the same and her friends go
down TO Ascot when the weather begins to
get sharp and ride after the dogs Just as
! though II were the real sport of the Adiron-
dgcks or the great northwest of the United
States. II they cut one another down &C.
| casionally, and fall over a hedge or two as
they often 90 ii makes little difference so
that the semblance of the old time royal
hunt is maintained with just as many other
useless forms are preserved merely as a
matter OF sentiment. These people are
great on traditions, even after they become
ridiculous, and they are willing to acknowl-
edge that they are So They dislike innova-
tons upon old methods and love to continue
the memories Of hundreds of years ago.
Hence the stag hounds are still kept intact
and the royal hunt is as much of feature
Of aristocratic life as ever.
| The Prince of Wales does not take part in
in these occasions and never did take much
interest in chasing the deer. HIS penchen1
took different turn. Up until few years
ago he kept pack of hounds, but ne sem
them only alter the willy fox, and followed
them with dash that Won for him tho ad
miratiCn of all sportsmen. ] met the land
lord OF q quaint old hotel in the south o.
England who sold the prince his dogs anC
the old boniface said thata finer pack never
started after fox. But they were sold
few years ago and since the duties of hi,
maturer life crowded upon him, he has no
owned or followed the hounds, but givel
considerable attention to race horses anC
his stable promises 10 be one of the strong
est in England, although just now the Dukt
OF Portland seems to nave the call on thu
bulk Of the luck both in breeding and run
ming.
The Queens dogs are splendidly housed
well feu, and carefully cared for by tn
most expert huntsman in England. He i
well thought of ana regards himself as
man of Importance in the affairs of the ma
ton. He directs the hunt, and in his gaud,
dress of green plush, jockey Cap, red vest
white pants and black top boots he is yer,
picturesque character. His whole heart j
in MS business. His sole ambition is t
have the hounds in the pink of perfection
and well trained for what the people WIN
follow them call sport He lives well an
many country gentleman OF considerabl
means in the United States would be gla
TO dwell as good d house and have as pleas
ant surroundings. He has plenty of assist
ants, so that his work is not hard, and in hi
sphere he is lord and master. He is as ter
acious OF the rights and privileges of hi
place as any duke in the kingdom, an
withal he is a very important parsonage
People who 60 down TO Ascot in the hunt
ing season pay him 4 good deal of defer
ence, and his opinion about dogs and dee
is regarded as authority. Besides the me
of ali work about him, he had two ''whiI
pers-in," who help him about tue kenLei:
and do their part in keeping the pack II
gether when the chase is on. They dres
gaudily like the huntsman, and are prom
inent part OF the royal hunt.
There is no more beautiful sight in tn
, realm of fun than to look upon group c
men and women mounted for the chas
those November days. The men are dresse
much like the huntsman / have described
, and are splendidly mounted. The wome
, wear exceedingly nobby costumes in tn
! way of riding habits, each selecting Lh
color which best suits her taste. AS rul
} they are very reckless riders, and it is tn
common chat Of every circle that they wi
take as many chances il not more than th
man. They enter int the sport with gres
spirit, and rarely hesitate to take an
jump in their road. For each person in th
chase there is what is called second horse
men, light riders from the stables, drcsse
like the ''whippers-in,' - and they follow tn
i hunt, saving their horses as much as po
) sible. so that those who are engaged in th
chase may have fresh animal if the
torse tires or is run down.
! The magnificent horses, the dogs cage
for the run, the variegated costumes of u
riders, all unite to make a very spirite
picture. Every one is the personifcatio
of health, and bright anticipation is write
on every face, even though it be tho mo-
stolid English countenance. The horn
the huntsman is the signal for the star
and away they go over the fields, across II
hills, Jumping fences, bitches or anythin