The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-19
REVIEW OF FOX
HOUND MATCH ] Gil
From Whence the concl ii.
ion Of the Judges III
Came.
ENGLISH HOUND TRAINED FINE.
Are Trained for Men Who Hunt
to Ride--Potomac Dividing
Line in Methods.
Special 10 The Times-Dispatch.)i

BttOOhNE NAL, VA, AZ november. ID - n
Tho summary decision OF the three /
Judges appointed to judge between the
respective merits Of the Grafton and
Mlddlesex hounds which have been
hunted on alternate days for two weeks
in Piedmont, Va, has determined I the
settled question SO far as MIR. Smith i
and Mr.. Higgtnson are concerned. but e
review Of the performance OF the hounds
and the exploits OF riders who followed
the chase will reveal some interesting Y
facts which cannot tall to Impress the IS
minds Of Southern sportsmen who are
perhaps more interested in fox hunting Il
than any other class OF men who ride Il
to hounds-be 1t In England OF AmartcA.
AS very few packs OF English tox
hounds have ever been imported south
OF Mason and Dixon's line, and the
average fox hunter In the South u en-
tirely O stranger to the English methods
Of hunting this match has Afforded an
opportunity to study a question, while
not Of serious Importance, Is OF at least
sufficient interest to gain consldera Bile
attention .s u
= Had Mr.. HIgginson succeeded in win-
ming from the, Grafton hounds the lau-S
rels for which + he was contendlng leSS
would perhaps have aroused more ems
thusiasn among American breeders. and
resulted In more permanent heneh to 4
the sport on this 81 q Il oi the Atlantic
than his defeat Will acco tnpl lah.
BY along system OF Kennel and road
training in which English hounds have II
been made to obey the command Of tho.
huntsman and fear the lash Of the Will ps,sS
not only in their physical, but mental.
composlti on-unti the English hound ct =
to d ayE cam arcely$ cali his soul his own
when compared to the American lherr3gs
tine, who is accust omed to obey but
few commands and hunts according 70
This owns desires. IA d 2s {.
Whatever the training OF the English &
fox hound has accomp llshed In the way
OF educating him for field! manners, 81 Y 4
Is certain that al tend ency to #retroerad K
Gis slowly but surely ii eyid enSe, md 8ist 4
him who's doubts this assertion comp rs@
the dumb and stupid Eng lsh fox hound
OF to-day with his rugged ancestorsF 1,
their performances-and form a conclus
sionsa for himself as to their abb N
feather the fading scent at dawn g
trail where @the wandering stag fssh g 8 IS
roa med the surf washed sand, " as has
been written Of him. y. i. ssft. 5.S
M There was time in the history g Il:
Engfiland when the fox hound possessed IS
qualities nearly allied to our present.
American fox hound-his nose was talir-ss8
5ly ncute-volce clear and musical ana
syrnnetry admirable compared to- WA
Is Represented In the best type {of En- 81
fish hound to-day. II !. IS
sS But with a y change in color came Il a n.
change Of form and appesaa1ras nee, 60 tnas5SS
/ smith resurrected they would scarcely
recognize the stoid descendants OF thelrsB
3favorite field companions
S} Conte r,t to gallop along upon a 4 scent
which any ordinary half breed can carry "a
and conscious OF the ever-prssentB nunts--, -
man to cast them when at tau't tu C.
English fox hound Is peculiarly adapted
Bfo q class OF snort smen who hunt to 4;
ride. IL sl4. b 81, !. III
Considering the way the pack Il hand-sgS
led and taught to sacrlhce tndiy ldua!ity
and self confidence to human WIN, y y ~
wonderful how well they do perfor IN
AMERICA where conditions are not tar#
,vora Bile for accomplishing kills. OF g 1
near so tame as In En- gland. 5s.s
IN the recent contest between Mr. ME-.
Smith and Mr. E4ig ginson. when neither
NJ. r. Fl. could claim q Kill, It was upon
the speed OF the hounds and their sman- 4
lner Of pursuing the fox that the decislo on
was awarded. S5 5s55i
And while the decision may never prove 4
n satisfactory one to the disciples OF the
English fox hounds who witnessed thelrs
performances In Piedmont or TO nose
who read the press reports OF tne mai Gttlsa
1t is an unquestionnble fact that tns i
gentlemen who judged the contest were
unprecedented and impartial. ana IN &C. s3s'
8llyerine an opinion were unanimous 81.
Had the hunting ground been selected II
in r country where 1t was impossible g q
follow. the hounds SO closely as the helalsg
rode to the pack In Piedmont ana tha&
foxes not run to earth. but stayed apoNs, l
ground and covered long distances, therei
would have been ample opportunlty8 ~ =, n
proye the vast superiority OF the "A mer1-SS
can over the English hound in what we
nav tern, typical American hunting
In New England, where the majority
of fox hunters are accustomed 70 num-
to ride, the English fox hound VIII appeai
to their sense Of sport and serve 9 Z
purpose. q 81
But in the South, which Is not exactlY a
America, but the better hunting por-
ton OF 1t, fox hunters who hunt the fox
for sport and ride to hunt, will never
bs able to account for game with any
hound which does not possess 'ndiviar 4
uality 33 v WI
It seems that the Potomac Is destinesi
to remain distinct boundary dlvldins
two schools OF sportsmen, whose mel ~
DDS OF hunting and riding are at va
rance.
AS the South has the precedence and
the American fox hound Is pest @aAP.sst
to Southern hunting ground and capahhlie +
OF showing better sport than ans othaaS
breed Of fox hound which has ever y been en- I;
Imported within her borders, i VII DO
many years, II not centuries, before I'm ,n4s
customs of the country ehanse .o su ~
( an extent that any deviation from .hs
present hunting method REQUIRES, ths &c.
troduction Of a pack OF foS hounds vi KS
arc only suited to q fashionable iseld
follow.
"a emulate tho example OF our Englisa, n
Cousins can have the opportnrEty q IN
doing BY misrntins 70 s where n e &
hounds and English ihsshoas aessl nsa z
the the consolation that one can have his
neck broken or be ridden over ny =
most extraordinary set OF fellows VII 4
out travelling several thousand miles q n
b,tsssra. =