The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-19
PRAIRIE HUNTING CONTESTS.
A winter Sport in Vogue In western
Neirhb0rhoods.

winter Sport In Vogue In "ssssrn
Nsighborhocds.
Remote. though the jewellers on the
Western prairie may be from the
head waters of culture. they are
not without pleasure. Grand OPERA
fancy dress balls and receptions
there are none, but Of .he hearty. cheer
o., out-of-door sport that makes the
nuIses tbrob faster and the cheeks glow
With ruddier hue there Is abundance.
Winter is n time for jollity and good
cheer In the prairie settlements. and II
brings in its train a long line OF unique
omusements as attractive In their essen
tial features as they are healthy and glee-
full.
(,bief among these winter sports are
the neighborhood hunting contests. where
whole communities join in generous
rivalry. and enjoy the keen sport OF pag-
cling the diverse species OF game WIN
which the West abounds.
Two of the mightiest nimrods OF the
settlement choose Sides" selecting the
men and boys Of the neighbornood after
natejv until all are enlisted in one army
or the other. Then scale OF points Is
agreed upon and given over TO a commit
tee. On the printed programme OF
hunt in which go members OF western
Kansas community took part few days
ago. the scale was Quail, points, RAD
bits, s; tack rabbits, 10; squirrels, lo'
prairie chicken, %; partridge, 80; duck,
40; gray squirrels, so; coyotes, 70; woiVes'
100: antelope, $50; hawks, 30: wild geese,
co. and prairie dogs. 40.
At early daylight on the appointed
date heller SHELTER over plain ana faVihe
the rival parties go, singly by twos'
threes. and quartets, banging away des-
perately at whatever may come withln
range Of their guns. All is grist for the
hunting mill, and the excitement grows
as the days end approaches. Sometimes
one party will surround few hundred
acres of land that promise rich game re-
wards. and, in the manner OF whipping
the preserves OF old English estates, pro-
coed to drive I'm the small game Of the
section, slaughtering the creatures rap
idly as the circle closes
As night draws nearer the hunters come
struggling into the settlement, weary and
hungry bringing their harvest with them.
There has been no stopping for dinner,
as something better is TO come later.
The game heaped in two great piles
attest the prowess Of the opposing forces.
At the hunt referred to above there were
twenty coyotes. three anteopes, fifty
prairie chickens, quail, squirrels, rabbits
and ducks almost beyond counting. The
abundance Of game made the old hum
ters fairly beam with satisfaction. The
committee gravely figured up the points.
There were 1921 on one side, $3.50 on the
other.
Then comes the reward. In the largest
hall of the settlement cooks have been
busy all day, and when the result Is
announced. amid cheering and jollity, the
contestants sit down to a steaming hot
dinner, upon the bill OF fare, Of which
appears some of the 'choicer varieties Of
game first brought in. Venison, duck,
prairie chicken, squirrel, all make the
meal one TO remember, and the bright
eyed wives and daughters OF the hunters
to serve, it becomes the nearest approach
to a State banquet that many neighbor-
hoods ever enjoy.
And after the banquet the dance, a
real Western fandango, with its fiddlers
perched on boxes, its earnest and ener-
getic SWANS in broad collared shirts. and
pantaloons in high boot tops its gay cal
icoed and bright checked lassies, and the
peculiar tread OF the dancers. Western
dancers move the shoulders more than
they do their feet. and the result is
swaying motion. rhythmical and attrac-
tive-New York Sun.