Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-14
Music of the Hounds sweet to the
Snortsmnn.E Ear.
HEARD ALL OVER THE STATE.

Fox-hunting has always been the great
est OF virginia outdoor sports. From the
earliest days Of the States history, when
English squires held the land from the
Chesapeake TO the mountains down to the
present time, the race Of virginians have
heen a fox-hunting and a hound-loving
people Other States sometimes get up
great chases, wealthy clubs in other sec
ions assume English manners and dress
In hunting style. but when it comes down
10 tho simple proposition of fox-hunting
there are no people in the world better
qualified in every way to enjoy the sport
than the average Virginian whether resi-
dent of country or town. It is born into
the Virginia people-inculcated by nature
and with many love for the chase is
powerful and over-mastering instinct
The foN-hunting season is now just
about 10 commence. The first frost usters
IN that happy season. Just before the
woods begin to tinge red. the chestnut
burrs 10 open. old hounds are brought
out OF the long summer lethargy, into
which they have fallen, are taken out
for a smell in the fresh damp woods and
fields on a September morning. and. be-
aod. IN a twinkling the spirit of the
shase has returned, and old Driver and
MDsic are themselves again.
From Acconac to the Holston. from
Fairfax 10 Halifax the sport is known
observed and practiced with that con-
su.umate natural skill not known else
where in the world.
The Sport in Virginia.
But in Virginia the fox-chase is differ
eTt-far different-from what it is else
where, except in few old sections of
England and in portions of the Bluegrass
region Of Kentucky. Vireinians don't
care for form in fox-huntng. II matters
little to them whether the sport would be
considered orthodox from q Leicestershre
point of view. For two centuries fox
hunting in the same old way has been the
natural pastfme Of the Virginia gentry,
and If any change has been made (and
changes are detrimentaD since the sport
was imported from England, the change
has been made in the Northern country,
not here.
Outside few of the cities in Virginia
where gorgeously -bedecked and red-coat-
ed riders prance clumsily after a bag
drag, the Virginia people really hunt
foxes, and hunt them in such a way as
those strangers who have a Strenuous
drop OF blodd in their veins.
Music OF the Hounds
vfrginians don't hunt foxes for the
sake Of racing or steeple-chasing When
the music OF the bounds starts up horses
are forgotten hills are levelled. bitches |
widen out of the sight and the one great |
object Is to race him down to his death. |
The fox and the music of the hounds is |
what charms the Virginia hunter. What |
does he care for a pair Of high boots or
q red Jacket.
There have always been two schools |
OF foE-hunting IN America, and these as |
widely sundered from each other as the |
poles. The one is a modern importation, |
exotic Exaggerated. follow I'd by the Brit |
ish ape IN the great cities and at the |
fashionable watering places. The other |
has ever been from remote times part |
Of The social life o. old Virginia. The |
mounds. the horns the horses, the red |
coats Of the one are brought from Lei
cestershire and the Blackmare Vale, the |
Whole plain, everyday outfit of the other, |
was bred, made and born among the Vir-
Giaa hills.
All over the State
The Virginia fox-hunter can be found
in every county in the State-TiGewater,
iedmont and Va11ey-and everywhere,
outside Of the cities, he is the same senu
inc sport
It is certain that Bob Lee Spencer and
Winder Lane Of williamsburg, won't |
ieel out OF place with pair of hunting
boots on, while Henry Maclin, Of Enpo-
ria, would feel like a monkey bedecked in
d Fed-hannel hunting coat. Howard Crute.
OF Farmviile, wouldn't pay s25 for one
OF the hlsh-jun7 ping, blooded English fox
horses, and Henry Chappell and George
Eatteson, Of Buckingham, have hounds I
'they can talk Of old Driver and Time,
over Rernus and Music all day. that can
catch more foxes in a week than an En-
ElShman or a New Yorker is likely to
see IN two years And all these men have /
more real, genuine, wholesome fun at
1o&-Hunting in one season than the aver
age Newport horsy swell has in his |
whole lifetime
A Richmond Club.
There used to be fox-hunting club
N Richmond that hunted foxes in the
i!SAt way Thompson Brown was one
VI the fingleaders, and every week they
went over into Chesterfield and upper
E2enr!co and sometimes into King Will
AaIn and Hanover, and nine times out /
" zen they caught a fox before they re-
,tFNsd That club was the most genuine
NEGinla fox organization ever main
famed in Virginia city. though there
a. such to-day IN Albemarle, Nelson
Nuipeper, Orange, Fauquier, Loudoun,
ana Fairfax couneies
George Washington, when he was at
nome at Mount Vernon, was an enthusi-
aSuc fox-hunter. His diary takes careful
Lo'e Of the days he hunted, which We're
very many, the kind OF sport he had.
"hich was great, and the company he was
win, which was always congenfal. He
9'ed good hounds. and scattered them,
as Jefferson did bulls and sheep. all over
n.S section of Virginia-an admirable SER
For-HuntinE Tale.
..a pr Bradley. IN his charming book,
sketches from Old Virginia. tells the
slory of an old Virginia colonel who
spent most OF his life fox-hunting on his
bg plantation in Virginia. He was a ty-
Hcai Virginian, kind-hearted yet bluff.
q mater Of Yankee and Yankee doinss.
*ho utterly Disguised with the burned
.ohcaptions'' used by the English noun
"a min fox-hunters. His old negro man.
Iphraim, always Joined in the sport, and
WIN his foot in rope stirrup would
e. seep Out with the dogs all day and night,
Il necessary
l A