Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-09-18
10 THE HOUNDS MOs1n
Row They Dress Hes the Chase - aha
HupSIng HReakfast with Its Spnptuous
observation-disclosures and Par
fridge Shooting.
PoPYMoAA epLl

EN&hjon 10 Of her best when she
paalkes upsn and women love horses,
&oea, boating, swimming and all ont Of
hooT gamGs-when she breaches ply
deal culture It is Q good thing to see
. man play lawn tennis under hot
sun for hoursi you feel that that man
could storm a battery.
Nothing Is more encouraging TO the
lover OF all physical culture than the
hunting, shooting, boating and driving
mania In the United StateA
Hunting and shooting are sometimes
used as synonymous terms IN America
In England they mean quite different
Ehings
Hunting is riding TO bounds" With
oxA firearms. letting the dogs kill poor
puss, as the fox Is called, while shoot
kpg Is 10 tramp over field, mountain and
through forest. gun In hand. TO kill
beeT, grouse or partridge. accompanied
BY dogs Tho l0th Of August Is the
momentous day, tho Arst OF tho grouse
shooting. Everyone who can afford 1t,
or hos friend who can afford It. Is off
Tor tho noors ca the 18th TO fill his bag.
The FIRST of September (partridge)
and the frst of October (phensant shoot
ln99 are gale days. and the man who
cannot handle gun Is little thought Of.
Even in August inveterate fox hunters
meet at four or five o'clock in the morn
ing for cub hunting, which amusement
Is all over by eleven or twelve. AS the
winter comes on the real hunting be-
gins. and lasts until late IN March In
the midland counties this Is special
feature. Melton. in Worcestershire. Is 3
noted hunting rendezvous People (many
Americans) take boxes" there for the
season. with large stables, and beguile
the evenings with dinners, dancing and
card parties. 1t Is q sort of winter
watering place without any water,
where the wine flows In streams every
night, and where the brandy flask is
filed every morning ''in case of acct
DENTS" while out with the hounds. An
enthusiast in riding can be in the sad
die ten or twelve hours out of every
day, except Sunday, which Is a dull day
at Melton.
All the houses with such q neighbor-
hood are successfully made the reRdeE-
cous, or meet of tho hunt. People come
from great distances, and send their
horses by the rail, others drive or ride
in, and send their hunters valuable
horses these) by a groom, who walks
them the whole way. Tho show Of
pink" Is generally good Pink means
the scarlet hunting coat, worn by the
gentlemen, the whippers-in. etc, and
the weather fades these coats to a pale
pink, very much esteemed by the older
men. They suggest tho scars Of vet
eran warrior, hence tho name Some
men hunt in black coa&A. but always in
top boots. These boots are q cardinal
point In sportsman's dandy4sm.
once or twice during the season a
hunting breakfast Is given In the house
where the meet takes place. This Is u
pretty scene.
ALI sorts of neat Proughams, dog
carts, and old family chaE'iots bring the
ladies, who wear as much scarlet as
good taste will allow.
Ladies with their children come to
these breakfasts, which are sumptuous
affairs. Great rounds of cold beef,
game patties and salads are spread ont.
All sorts of drinks, from beer to cham
payne, and various ''cups" are offered.
One of the ladies Of the house sits at
the head Of the table, with a large an
tique silver urn before her, and with
tea and coffee ready for those who wish
these beverages.
Some girls come on horse back, and
look very pretty in their habits. These
Dianas dismount and cut slices of beef,
and make impromptu sandwiches for
their friends outside, who have not dis
mounted. The daughters OF the house
stand on the steps, while l1veried serv-
ants hand around cake and wine, and
others carry foaming tankards Of ale
and liberal slices Of cheese among the
farmers and attendants Of the kennel.
1t is an indoor and an outdoor feast.
The hounds are gathered in group,
the huntsman standing on the center
cracking a whip, and calling each
hound by his name. Two or three
masters of neighboring packs are talk
ing to the master of the hounds. He is
one of the prominent gentlemen of the
county who holds fox-hunting as some
thing sacred, and the killing of a fox
otherwise than in a legitimate manner
as one of the seven deadly sins
Twelve o'clock strikes, and everyone
begins to stir. Generally tho hunt is
off at eleven, but in honor of this break
fast delay has been allowed. The
huntsman mounts his horse and blows
| 8
him, and the whole field starts out.
They are going to draw the covers at
some largo plantation above the park.
The Notwithstanding the fox holes
have been stopped for miles around, SC
| that the fox once started has no refuge
to make for and is compelled to give
the horses a run. 1t is a mean, coward
" sport, and no fair play about it.
But it is pretty sight Tho hounds
| go first, and, their noses to the ground,
search for the scent. The hunters and
whippers-in, professional sportsmen, in
scarlet coats and velvet jockey caps,
ride immediately next to them, followed
by the field. In little while q con-
| fusion Of rumorS and cries is heard in
the wood. various calls nre blown On
the horn, and the frequent cracking OF
high whips, which sound is used to keep
the hounds In order, has all the effect
of succession of pistol shots. "Harkl
| tho fov has brol1on oOver - and a "a,