Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-06
TO THE HOUNDS MUSIC
Rides a Gay Cavalcade in the Famous
Fox Chases of England.
LUIURY0F THE HUNT BREAKFAST.
The idea Of Sport Across the Sea Very DIFF
ferent From Ours.
PROSPECTS FOR THE CUSTOM HERE
rwRrrrHr FOR THE prspA.cH.J

men ana women love horses, dogs, boating,
swimming and all out of door games-when
she breaches physical culture. It Is good
thing to see man play lawn tennis under o
hot sun for hours; you feel that that man
could storm battery. Nothing Is more
encouraging to the lover of all physical
culture than the hunting, shooting, boating
and driving mania in the United States.
Hunting and shooting are sometimes used
as synonymous terms in America In En-
gland they mean quite different things
Hunting is riding to hounds without
firearms, letting the dogs kill poor puss, as
the fox is called; while shooting is to tramp
over field, mountain and through forest,
gun in hand, to kill deer, grouse or part
ridge, accompanied by dogs The 18th of
August is the momentous day, the first of
| the grouse shooting Everyone who can af-
ford it, or has friend who can afford it,
is off for the moors on the 18th to fill his
bag. The first of September (partridge)
and the first of October (pheasant shooting)
are gala days, and the man who cannot
handle gun is little thought Of Even in
August inveterate fox hunters meet at or
o'clock in the morning for cub hunting,
which amusement is all over by II or IL
n WINTER I1ACE-
AS the winter comes on the real hunting
begins, and lasts until late in March. In
the midland counties this is q special fea-
ture. Melton, in Leicestershire, is a noted
hunting rendezvous. People (many Aneri-
cans) take ''boxes" there for the season,
with large stables, and beguile the evenings
with dinners, dancing and card parties 1t
is sort of winter watering place without
any water, where the wine flows in streams
every night, and where the brandy flask is
filled every morping Sin case of accidents"
while out with the hounds. An enthusiast |
in riding can be in the saddle 10 or u hours |
out of every day, except Sunday, which is a
dull day at Melton.
Once or twice during the season hunt
ing breakfast is given in the house where
the meet takes place. This is q pretty
scene. All sorts of neat broughams, dog
carts, and old family chariots bring the
ladies, who wear as much. scarlet as good
taste viii allow. Ladies with their chill
dren come to these breakfasts, which are
sumptuous affairs Great rounds of cold
beef, game patties and salads are spread out
All sorts of drinks, from beer to champagne,
and various "cups" are offered. One of
the ladies of the house sits at the head of +
the table, with large antique silver urn
before her; and with tea and coffee ready for
those who wish these beverages. Some girls
come on horseback, and look very pretty in
their habits
INDOOR AND OUTDOOR FEAST
beef, and make impromptu sandwiches for
their friends outside, who have not dis
mounted. The daughters of the house stand
on the steps, while liveried servants 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
The hounds are gathered In group, the
huntsman standing in the center crack ing
whip, and calling each hound by his name
Two or three masters Of neighboring packs
are talking to the master Of the houndA He
is one Of the prominent gentlemen of the
county who holds foxhunting as something
sacred, and the killing of fox otherwise
than in legitimate manner as one of the
seven deadly sins
Twelve o'clock strikes, and everyone be-
gins to stir. Generally the hunt is off at II,
but in honor of this breakfast delay has
been allowed. The huntsman mounts his
horse and blows his horn; the hounds gather
around him, and the whole field starts out.
They are going to draw the covers at some
large plantation above the park. The
1'earths s"-meaning the fox holes-have been
stopped for miles around, so that the fox
once started has no refuge to make for and
is compelled to give the horses run.
LIKE ALL ENGLISH SPORTS.
II is mean, cowardIy sport, and no fair
play about it. But 1t Is q pretty sight
The hounds go first, and, their noses to tho
ground, search for the scent The hunters
and whippers-in, professional sportsmen, in
scarlet coats and velvet jockey caps, ride
next to them, followed by the
field In little while q confusion Of
rumors and cries is heard in the wood,
various calls ore blown on the horn, and
the frequent cracking Of whips, which
has all the effect of a succession Of pistol
shots
"Harki the fox has broken cover" and
repepted cry of ''Tally Hop bursts from
the wood
Away go the hounds, full cry, and what
sportsmen call their music" something
between bay and yelp, is indeed pleas
ant sound, heard as it always is under cir
cumstances calculated to give it a romantic
'feet" in hunting parlance, he has only a
"brush" and 'tpadsh The person who. is
Sin at the death" receives the ''brush" and
pads" The hunt 10 privileged body in
England, and can make gaps in hedges and
break down walls with impunity. The
farmer never complains. The poor creature
who has made such desperate run for his
life must be killed OF any cost.
THE FAvoRITE IN ENGLAND.
Shooting is, however, the favorite sport
Of all Englishmen. Both pheasants and
partridges are first carefully reared, the
eggs generally purchased in large quanti-
ties, Matched by hens, and the birds fed
through the summer with meal and other
appropriate food. The gamekeepers take
the greatest pride in the rearing of these
birds. The pheasant is to the Englishman
what the Ibis was to the Egyptian. He is
petted, worshiped and killed, sacred bird.
They are let loose in the woods only when
nearly full grown. When the "covers are
full, +" and good bag is to be expected, the
LIST of October is regular feast day, large
party is asked, and a variety Of costumes
makes the scene picturesque. Gentlemen
iress, in red or purple stockings, knicker-
,ockers of stout cloth or velveteen. a shoot
ng jacket of rough, heavy material and
stout shoes. Such is the costume.
The ladies collect after breakfast to see
he party start ,out, a rendezvous is agreed
lpon, and luncheon. or tea brings them to-
yether at either 2 or 8 o'clock, under a shell
materials of an ample meal are brought to
he appointed place, and gay picnic en-
ues.
THE STYLE IN AMERICA.
When we consider that hunting is the
fashion" which Americans are trying to
ollow in country without foxes, and with
10 preserves of game, we must concede that
he system of American fox-hunting must