Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-14

women come to accent this hospitality. They
do not like the hazards of the sport, and it
is altogether too much trouble and work for
an American to enjoy. have great respect
for the caution oil my countrymen, for can
conceive no more dangerous fun than mount
ing an English hunter and starting over the
fields after the dogs. The horses get as wild
as the dogs, and an old-fashioned hunter
educated for the chase is rather dangerous
customer for novice to handle, for they
often get wild with the spirit of the occasion.
THE MAGNIFICENT KENNELS.
The Queens hounds live in buildings
which many a man with nice family would
be glad to occupy. They are carefully
dieted on oatmeal, cooked to perfection.
When being prepared for the chase they
only get one meal a day, but that is very
generous one. and consists of this. hearty
food. They are carefully exercised aud fol-
low the horn and the hunter many miles
every day; for he is as careful to have his
dogs in fit condition as a trainer is to have
his race horse perfect for the start and run.
None but the pick of the pack are taken for
the chase, and none but those well schooled
for their work are started in these royal
hunts in which royalty in the strict appli-
cation of the term rarely takes part.
A gentleman who ought TO know told me
that the Queens stag hounds were worth
$50, 1000. and doubtless this is tbe inside fig
ure, ior many an Englishman, as a matter
of sentiment, would be glad to pay good
deal of money ior hound from the royal
kennels. The old landlord who told me the
story OF selling his dogs to the Prince of
Wales suggested $40, 900 as the price that
Albert Edwards representative paid him
for the high-bred CANNES which he used to
follow in the days before he got too lazy to
hunt, or the responsibilities of his position
warned him to keep clear of its dangers.
But the value of the pack is but small
matter as compared with the cost of main
tanning it.
THE BIG SALARIES PAID.
The men who are known as "master of
the hounds" and ''grand falconer" get
large salaries. The positions are all re-
garded as very dignihed places. For in
stance, the Earl of Coventry is the master
of the hounds" at salary of 81, 500 a year.
Of course he has nothing to do with the.
hounds or with their care, except to say q
word now and then to the "huntsmen" or
buy good dog if he sees one. The Duke
of st. Albans is the grand falconer" at a
salary OF nearly $1,000 year. To that
title is allied that of herder, and in the fic-
tion of this curious custom and condition he
is supposed to have some control over the
breeding and management of the deer that
are bred for the hunt. But he has about as
much to do with them as a stranger who
never saw Ascot, the Queens kennels, or
witnessed run over the fields after the
deer.
These positions were created and are
maintained for the purpose of increasing
the income of such people as may enjoy the
Queens favor, and they are piled upon one
another until Duke or Earl who has COM
mended himself to the Queen occupies
dozen different positions, so far as drawing
the salary is concerned, without rendering
any service therefore. 1 suppose at a rough
estimate the stag hounds for the royal hunt
cost $100, 900 year, and yet if an effort was
made to abolish the caprice. doubt if it
would be seriously considered.
FRANK A. BURR.