The Monitor-register., 1896-02-14
Athletes
JACK RABBITS FOR coURsING.
Said Co BE Greatly Superior to the Englisl
Hare For That Primrose

said to Be Greatly Superior to the English
Hare For That Purpose.
The sport Of rabbit coursing is receiv-
ing a new impetus since the Kansas
black tailed jack rabbit has entered the
arena. Not until quite recently has the
coursing fraternity been aware of the
great superiority of the jack over the
cotton tail rabbit Or the English hare for
this purpose. Kansas jack rabbits are
now greatly in demand, both in this
country and in England, and live ones
command good price. The difficulty in
catching them alive is very great, and
only one man in Kansas, so far as
known, has given his undivided atten-
tion to the work.
Charles Payne, familiarly known
throughout the west as hunter and
plainsman, has been a jack rabbit en-
thusiast for years, and it is largely
through his efforts that the merits of the
animal for coursing purposes have be-
come so generally recognized. The cap
ture of live jacks involves the purchase
Of a great deal of expensive parapher-
MALTA. Mr.. Payne has two nets made of
seine twine, 5 feet in height, which,
when both are extended, reach almost
across a section, and made expressly for
catching live jacks. His method of en-
trapping the live jacks is unique. 1t is
his usual custom, when preparing for
the raid upon the rabbits, to advertise
among the farmer boys the day upon
rxJt,foh tho Sootr h7,if Iriu SC, 10 FOL
place.
At the appointed time hundreds of
country boys, mounted on ponies, flock
to the rendezvous, armed with fog horns,
drums, bells and anything else that will
make discordant music. They are de-
ployed in semicircular line two miles
in front Of the net, and at given sig
nal from the marshal of the day the line
moves toward the net, each man making
all the noise possible. If the hunting
grounds have been we'll selected, the
horsemen will have no trouble in
bouncing" rabbits innumerable, and
as they scamper away toward the net,
followed pellmell by the eager farmer
boys, the scene is one Of great anima-
tion.
The rabbits, if they do not become
confused by the noise and excitement,
bound away toward the net at almost
lightning speed, and many of them
strike the net so hard that they break
their necks. Those that survive the shock
scamper into the pockets which are in
geniously arranged for their reception,
and for them the jig is up. Rabbits
sometimes die of fright, not having suf-
icient strength to make the race for life
These rabbit drives are among the most
popular sports in which the prairie
farmers indulge, and it is customary for
the organizer of the drive to provide
bounteous spread for his gratuitous
helpers. .-Philadelphi Times.
A Doctors Discomfort In a High Place.
Some of the patients of one of the
prominent physicians in Dorchester are
getting well pretty rapidly these days
under the influence of joke which
they have recently heard regarding their
Asculapius. 1t seems that this doctor
has horror of high places and is al
ways uAAIy WuoA Ou 4OlUy Uul1uluSS.
Not long ago some relatives from Eng
land visited him and suggested trip
to Bunker Hill, and, in common with
about one-half Of the population Of Bos-
ton, the doctor was not only forced to
acknowledge that he had never been to
the top of the monument, but was
obliged to accompany his guests to the
summit of the granite shaft. 1t cannot
be asoertained whether the persons whom
they found there had ever heard of the
doctor before, but he had not been there
many minutes when one of the strangers
was heard to remark that the sun had
such an influence ON the monument that
on warm days it warped it. This was
enough for the doctor, and, with part
ing remark that he would see his friends
at the base, he beat hasty retreat, 60
ing down, it is said, four steps at a
time and not feeling safe until he had
run out on the lawn about the monu-
ment far enough to get out of the way
in case it fell. The joke of it all is that
the doctor, in state of absentminded-
ness told the story himself, and now,
much to his chagrin, his patients are
laughing themselves into good health.
Boston Traveller.