The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-01-13

thought he was dome for" when he
was seen making off at a right-angle,
to the centre of the field, and the dogs
lay in a heap
The crowd shouted "a cracker iackl
cracker jackp' The previous rabbit
had been snapped up, when half across
the field. But this fellow was no easy
job. The hounds were getting winded.
But they were game and on they
rushed. The hare led them away to
the North, but Kitty" the little
brown and white hound, gained in a
fair spin. Lord, bless you, what a race
it was! The big dog Jagged, but the
little hound ran like an arrow The
crowd shouted. The hare never turned
again, but was evidently making for
one of the three escapes" on dead
run, when Kitty" picked poor jack up
with foaming jaws The crowd went
wild The women gathered their skirts
around them and mounted the seats.
Deafening shouts arose. Kitty was
duly announced as winner. Her colors
J were raised. The riders rushed to the
scene, took the rabbit from her mouth,
and picked the hair from her teeth. She
painted like a racer, and the groom
blanketed the dog. Dozens rushed to
the hare when she was brought in, to
carry her in triumph to the paddock.
Lucky dog The women were in love
with the darling hound, and laughed
and shouted, but gathered in their bets
The big hound had been the favorite,
but the little one won. A rush was
made to the betting booths and SO
ended the earthly career of another jack
rabbit.
Thus one rabbit followed another to
death, and fresh pair of hounds was
brought out each time The winning
dog was subsequently pitted against
another winner, and so the ties and
winners were run off, till the final run
came, when the fun and betting grew
fast and furious. The dense crowd
around the pool-selling boxes, and the
great throng which covered the grand
stand, bespoke the interest in the final
run-off. Forty-eight hounds were in
the run, but we did not stay to witness
the conclusion of these tragedies.
AS Byron somewhere says. there is a
moral to all human tales" One of the
lessons you can paste in your hat. from
this show is, put not your trust in
''deacons Even the church isn't al
ways safe. Another point to the moral
is, that it is by no means safe to bet on
the big dog. Size, muscle and Drawn
are not always sure winners Miss
Alcott put her money on Little
| Women" and won. And l noticed
| the stakes. -. . .
But seriously, from the famboyant
character of the advertisements we
were not fully advised of the character
of this rabbit coursing" 1t is to be
observed that no one ever bets on the
rabbit. He only bets as TO which hound
will catch and kill the rabbit. But
the murderous character Of the whole
thing, not only outrages the moral
sense of all good people, but every
kindly sympathy is fully aroused.
Of all animals, the poor. mild
inoffensive rabbit, is the
least combative With his soft.
velvet, baby eyes, he appealed to every
emotion of human sympathy. If it was
a wildcat or mountain hon the crea
ture would have the robust courage t
care of itself But all the rabbit can
do is to suffer and die 'Itais mea
| thing to condemn the ief8nsaless an
NAL to such death, D. has no chans
for its white alley" Even iffone should
happen to reach one of The escapes.
J it is only taken out to ynn 20 its deato
later on. Where is the humane societ
that the cruelty of rabbit coursing
not only openly denounced, out ste
put to this kind OF murder? You ma
recall the dying gla6iatVys in the are1
at Rome, the bnll fight OF Spain or eve
the eockhghts, az New Orleans, BIZ
in all snch battles the attacked par
has natural powers OF resistance al.
can make fight Bat NOD made tt
rabbit absolutely a D0p. sete1r b&tant, al
the. fellows who Tins leEpte him
death for gain, are mean and cowardl
| ,~. J Il BAKER.
Mapleton is enaeagoTlng 70 get
state farmers. institute Tor Feb 24t