The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-29
STARTING OUT ON "A HUNT
fectng than any

him down before a field that gallops
ahead. ready at any time to locate the
fox running over an open country.
It is extremely doubtful If any family
OF sportsmen kept a pack OF hounds ex-
clusively for hunting the fox before the
isomersets,- or that the fox was hunteu
by any member OF that family Garner
than BY the first Marquis around Rag
land Castle. FIJI
IT is necessary to consult other evil
dcnce than what is related by Chat1ln
Z In his "reminiscences OF "Cranborn chase
of Thomas Howncs' pack In 1880, and we
turn to the kennel books Of the Oldest
established hunt to find when foxhounds
were Introduced and fox-hunting became
a popular sport in the Shires.
In 1928 there were thirty couples OF
barriers and six couples of deerhounds
at Badminton.
Lord Bath borrowed a draft OF these
hounds In 1876 for the purpose OF I'm
proving his breed, and the same year
Radminton sought new blood In a hound
named Caesar from the kennels OF
Lord "Padgett .'
Beaufort the Pioneer.
+ 1t was not, however. before Henry, the
fifth Duke Of Beaufort came into pos
session OF Badminton, in 1852. that the
hounds of that establishment were en-
tered exclusively to the fox. @ 4
A story is told OF how the Duke first
began fox hunting. He was returning ono
day from an unsuccessful stag hunt, and
throwing his hounds into Silk Wood.
oustcd fox which gave such q great
run that lie steadicd the pack down from
deer, and helped to found one OF the
greatest OF national sports.
The Belvoir hounds We're being hunted
after the fox about this time. and the
fame Of Mr.. Meynell had spread over
tho Shires In the season OF 1901 Bad
minton's Topper" had made such a
reputation In the field that he was bor-
rowed by I3evotr. and from this stock
sprung the famous "Rallywood = ''Weath-
ergauge,' Gambler Dexter" and
.'Dasher,," whose blood is represented in
every kennel in England.
Great Huntsrnan.
Crowdng at the heels Of Badlnnton
and Belvlor came long list Of fox
hunting establishments with such hunts
men as Gooseyr Goodall, the Smiths,
Dale Of Brocklesby and Frank Gilliard,
who with VIII Long. made the English
foxhound what he Is to day.
The various colors we find In fox
hounds of tho eighteenth century are in.
herlted from the colors OF the deer
for certain color became n fashionable
fad, and bench shows demanded certain
conformation, the foxhounds In England
were nondescrlpt.
Another fad which has helped to add a
family resemblance to tho English fox
hound is tho cropping Of the ears which
originally seemed intended as mark
to distinguish them from other breeds
The keen nozzle and round head, such as
is found In Rapture" 'Potentate" and
/ "Whlrlwlnd," has given way to the very
Objectionable skull and blocky jaw OK
hibited in the Illustration Of tho present
English foxhound.
While the English have, In a sense. In
vented a type for the foxhound within
tho last thirty years, the French have
preserved n much more intelligent and
attractive breed OF hounds from an Amer
lean standpoint gag
AS limited space prevents the mention
of many soprtsmen who have made Eng
land famous 1t may DO best to take up
one who stands pre-emlnently at the
head of the list and to whom is due more
credit for elevating the chase and per-