Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1890-02-28
A LIVELY EXPERIENCE.
The Truth About Fox Hunting by
One Who Has Given 1t Up.

One Who Has Given 1t Up.
."My dear fellow, it's most nwfully good
Of you; awfully kind. But IL mako II
rule never TO hunt another mans horses
never" sit bnclS in my chair as say thi.
TO Pudgewood, whose guest | am, and as
sumo a ,oOk which ought to convince hiir
that / am making sacrifice TO principle
which causes me profound regret and dis
appointment; but somehow he doesn't
seem to believe it.
''Nonsense, Jones ~ he says. "l'll give
you the old gray; he's the quietest hunter
have In the stable. Steady a. u house
and as clever on his legs as a cat defy
you TO bring that horse down, sirl" he con
cludes, with an emphatic thump on the din
ner-table.
| Now, strictly between ourselves, IL had
never occurred to me that there was the
least likelihood OF my bringing the horse
down. Well-founded apprehensions Leaf II
should bring medown prompt my disinclina.
ton to accept Pudgewoods offer; but OF
course 1t isn't necessary 10 tel Lin that.
! was speaking the truth when told him
that made 1t rule never TO hunt another
mans horses; | made that ruls long ago
and, never having hitherto met any one
who tempted Inc TO break 1t, have
found no difficulty in adhering to 1t.
When ! told Mrs. Jones TO accept the
Pudgewoods' invitation to spend week at
their place In Stoneshire quite forgot that
Anthony udgewoood was one OF those few
huntingmen who are generous enough to
mount their friends. Had | remembered
the fact. should have come TO Barnsdale
with a sprained wrist, or something which
would etfectually prevent man attempting
10 ride, 1t is quito obvious that Fudge
wood won't be put oil by my plea of "prin-
ciple;n so | must Try another argument.
~ don't like refusing your offer, Fudge
wood" say; land should have enjoyed d
day with the hounds immensely, but have
brought no riding things with me-" That
ought to be- inclusive, think. But no.
Pudgewood casts critical eye over my
figure, and says though fully: my clothes
wouldn't III you. I'm aiia'd.-But George
you remember my brother Georgel-left all
his hunting kit here, and he is Just the same
build as you are. I'll lend you some OF his
things.n
Every loophole OF escape seems TO be clos.
ing up. cast an appealing look at my
wife, who is sitting opposi me She Is q
clover We man, Mrs. Jones, though | say It;
wonderfully ready and of boundless re-
source. give Lor glance which Is in
tended to convey Help ms out of il; - but
she fails TO grasp my meaning. and helps me
u little further into it,
when Mr. Pudgewood IS so kind as 10
offer you mount, Algeruon, really think
you ought to take It," she says.
Anuftn II rh Mra Jopou ncanpta Dpd1..
wood ~ shouldn't like your husband 10 90
away from Burrsiale without having y
gallon with the Stonostire hounds. know
how fond of hunting he is; he has ofen told
me of his doings"
tt ings ere growing worse. I'm AFRAID
must have given Pudgewocd wrong i'm
preston when talked to him about hunt
ing Ny cxperience of the sport OF kings
has been that OF IN onlooker from the seat
OF dog-cart. used to enjoy that thor
oughly, particularly the lunching part OF
the days business when wai staying up
in Yorkshire last winter. | hare some
times been for ride along the road; but
never rode to hounds In my life, and
ought to have mentioned the fact, which
Pudgewood does not appear 10 be ac-
qualnted with. | wish there weren't so
many people r sent; | real v have not the
courage TO explain how have gained the
knowledge of hunting matters which have
been airing so freely all dinner-time before
such crowd 1t would look too foolish.
"I'm desperately afraid that it's going to
freeze tonight" said young gentleman,
drawing aside the window-blind as soon as
the ladies have left the room; Its looking
horribly clear"
The remark is received with chorus Of
Indignant dissent, in which | Join feebly.
Every body has so reason 10 be ieye that
It won't ire g.; the thermometer has been
rising, and the barometer has been steady
all day. There's q south wind; and Jinks,
the first whip, SAID only yesterday that
there wouldn't be frost again for a fort
night links appears to be an inflllible
authority on the weather, Judging from the
manner 10 which his opinion is quoted and
received. Every b"iy is sOothed by the an
and we draw In our chairs,
sclrnful glanCcs at the upstart
who took upon himself to look out OF the
md who now relapses into snubbed
silence. breathe an inward prayer tor at
least ton degrees Of frost, and try not to
hate the unknown J.nks. T AZ ia my one
hope now; II 1t free;.s am saved; II IL
doesn't
must confess there Is something about
gear which gives the wearer Il feel
ing OF confidence; md as stand before the
mirror in my drossing-ropn this morning,
rugged out In George Pudgewood's buck
skins and toI-boots which fit me admirably,
begin quiz TO look forward TO the days
outing. 1t didn't freeze last night; on the
contrary there was little rain, so the
ground will be ;o,orably soft II | meet with
an accident
'lwish you b Vi rod coat" says my wife
who has come ~ inspect mo; 'and-I may
be wrong-but think. Algernon, you have
put your spurs on upside down"
Mrs Jones' father was noted hunting
man IN the shires, and she ought 10 know
something about tuosc matters.
Dear no! so | have. Thanks for motto.
ing 1t. III put them rgut at once.n
They are soon readjustcd under Mrs
Jones' directions, AMI 1 ~ dowl stairs
to tho breakfi-t-rOom. had no
Idea it. was 40 d,licut 10 walk
down stairs with spur, on. Twice the
rUweis catch in the carpet, and ! vniy say,
myself from bud fall by cllnglng to ,a,
banislers with both hands. Finally, turn
round und walk down backwards, arriving
In safety on the mat without Ing en-. Il
wonder how other follows manage, for ]
don't recollect ever having heard any one
complain OF this difficulty before.
"Moruinr. .iones,n said Pudgcwood
through Il rilun OF buttere toast "Come
along; W. haven't much tm1 to spare.
The meets at Holly c0psc, seven mile.
away, at o'eveu O'Clock; aud it's nelr ten
now. win you ride out, or take seat in
the dog-cartir
If could take a seat In the cart aud
keep 1t. should select that without he,ita-
ton; but little practice In the saddle
win do me good, perhaps, so say that Twill
log out quietly,