The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-03
GROVER AND BUNNY.



I'm the Slaughter of Rabbits.
st. Louis Post Dispatch.
Over fences and through them, when the
rails were far enough apart. across green
meadows and stubby fields, UP hill and
down again, with the spirit of a boy out
for the first time with his first gun, yet
shooting straight and with a mans regard
for other peoples shins, midribs and head
coverings, Grover Cleveland kept a rabbit
hunting party going whole day in the
neighborhood of Princeton. n. J., his home.
When night came he seemed as fresh as
when he started, and. while his companions
were nearly played out and ready to quit,
he said he would not be through until he
had got back TO town and eaten rabbit
pie OF course, they had rabbit pie. too.
One day afield with the former President
of the United States is a revelation To
hear the Sage or Princeton shout 10 a
scared hare, That amt the one" and
There he goes! at another, and see his
cneeks aglow and eyes swapping. ever alert
things.
Mr.. Cleveland shoots exceedingly well.
So far he has to his credit the best bag
Of the season for the district around
Princeton, and his friend, Captain Van
Kirk, the squire of Rosedale. when the
sport was over, declared the statesman to
side.
1t was few minutes after $50 o'clock
when Mr.. Cleveland drove out to the Van
Kirk farm The hounds were yelping, for
they had seen the guns, and the members
of the hunting party, which consisted Of
Captain Van Kirk, Karl Priest, chemist.
of Princeton, and w. G. Horner, of Rose
dale, were ready TO be off. Mr.. Cleveland.
dressed in a brown suit of coarse cloth
and white felt hat, leaped out of his own
rig, and moment later the four gentle
men, with two farmhands. who were to
beat up the game. piled in another buggy
and headed for the hunting ground. The
Sage of Princeton sat beside his host and
smoked a very black cigar, while Mr..
Priest and Mr.. Horner stood up behind and
kept their equilibrium and themselves in
the vehicle by holding on tenaciously to
the shoulders of the two hunters on the
seat.
Tho farm hands were slowed in the bot
TOM their legs sprawling out behind and
kicking up the dust of the road. The
buggy was of a size just comfortable for
two. and why it did not turn turtle will
ever remain a miracle. 1t was dangerously
close to 1T many times, but just at the
usually Mr.. Cleveland, and ii would settle
back on safer keel
The place selected by Captain Van Kirk
was at no great distance away, and the
hounds were soon in full cry, with the
hunters behind them The squire and Mr.
Cleveland finished the first bunny, and it
wanted his guest to have the first shot
His guest took it and bagged the hare
when he saw that the captain was holding
up his piece.
mo partially, captain" said Mr.. Cleve-
land. IAN 1 want is an even chance with
the rest"
"All right" and the agreement was made
The sport was not up to expectations,
and when the party turned homeward at
! o'clock for luncheon it had shot only ten
hares, but seven Were Mr.. Clevelands.
ers started forth again in the same manner
as they had gone in the morning, and it
t was not because use the buggy shouldn't have
| load reached its destination without a spill
Mr.. Cleveland had his second wind so to
speak, and by the way he went over fences
and through them, as has been said it was
| evident that he intended to do something.
| The first shot came to him again. and he
| outdid every one of his companions in the
game-getting that followed.
The air was cool and tuned like long
| distance telephone transmitter. When the
hunters were more than two good city
| blocks away from one another what they
| said could be heard as distinctly as If
they were separated by no more than a
| step:
| came suddenly from corner of the field
| as one of the beaters started a hare into
| the open. Then two shots rang out and
| the sage Of Princeton, who had spoken and
whose piece had brought down the game
| trotted after the dogs, calling to them to
| retrieve. He was not thinking about the
| amt in the language; he was hunting.
L
| Cleveland had picked off another rabbit
| before the others had time to turn toward
| him. They gathered around him and he
| said with satisfaction, Now, wasn't that
a good one?'
| you're the champeen shot hereabouts
| Mr.. Cleveland, and no mistake"
| While the shooting was going on a mar
driving a wagonful of apples pulled vi
| alongside the fence.
How many they got?" he asked boy
/ on his way home from school who huns
on top rail looking at the shooters with
yearning eyes.
| Fifteen
wall, that's tolable for that crowd. but
/ / got eight an I was all alone yesterday
| "Mr. Cleveland killed most of them,
| the man with the apples was informed.
Eyes, / heern that he can shoot some,
| and he drove off and the boy seemed keen.
ly disappointed.
| The shadows of evening had begun t.
| slant by this time and the hunting party
| started for the spot where they had left
their buggy, the beaters following with
| their pockets bullying out with the game
| that had been slain.
This is q hunting day." said Mr.. Cleve
| land when he thought that he was coins
| to be asked a political question, and III
| spoke in such tone that it was evident
| he did not care to talk about the thing!
| William Jennings Bryan had been sayinf
| about him. He was good natured about it
| but he was going home to eat rabbit pie.