The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-08
The Anglo-Saxon Hound.
BY JAMES MARSHALL HENRY,

Flisli lead \ ali nations,::it will never be
known exactly what hunting qualities the
hounds of our crude forefathers possess
cd or with what melody OF tongue, accu-
racy OF scent or fleetness Of foot they
pursued their game, which consisted, win
now and then an exception, Of the stag.
wild boar and wolf, until the gradual
advance Of civilization drove the larger
animals from denuded forest and left the
cunning fox as logical object OF espe-4
cial attention to huntsnen who have
spared neither time or expense to accom-
pish his death for the past two CEN
turtles
4 Nowhere can thetevolution OF the Anglo
saxon hound be better traced than by
careful comparison Of his image woven
in Flemish, tapestry with the old English
prints in the British Museum.
A decided Improvement can be observed
In the hound OF the fifteenth from the
bound OF the eleventh century. which re-
suited from more careful selection BY
huntsmen who had commenced to acquire
the art OF breeding both horse and
Z hounds Thus from a very III proportion
ed dog, whose legs were high, ankles
crooked. and loins weak. with Won
derful continuation OF curly stern. and
n c,ir-like ear, there evolved type which
while In no wise equal to the fox hound
OF the VI seventeenth century. possessed
certain evidences Of stamina and speed.
4 The evolution. ofgtne Anglo-Saxon hound
proceeded from an evolution IN the hunt
ing field and the economy and discipline
Z OF the kennel The comeliness. symmetry
and healthy condition of hounds mark a
transition from the past to the present.
salutary exchange for former negll-
ne nee, lack of nutritious food. and care
lessness In everything pertaining to home
life.
When the hunting apparel of the thir-
&teenth and fourteenth century had been
stripped OF the heavy REQUIREMENT OF
the Normans and the steel cap replaced
by what Chaucer is pleased to describe
ms q 'Flanderish beaver hat" ornament
cd by feather, the cumbersome coat
or mall was replaced BY q close-fitting
garrent, buttoned in front and held over
the hips by a girdle into which was
thrust the hunting knife. For the heavy
foot-gear a thigh piece made OF leather
extended down to tile ankle which IN
time became tho jack boot the purchaser
OF the Melton white top. With the 4un-
necessary spur shortened into q roWel
Of still merciless power. and q long hunt
Ing horn, carved and ornomented. sus-
pended from the neck tho huntsmnn rode
n steed quite as awkwardly comparisoned
and blow his horn over hounds that
Needed no command. Yet this compared
with tho hunting outfit of tho twelfth
century was a step which gradually LED
to the innovation of the smart cont, with
cords fitting the man closely. yet With
unmistaknble ease; smart boots, 10 tho
heel of which affixed moderate spur,
the velvet hunting cap and hunter fitted
with the latest saddle and bride from the
strand, Having purposcy skinned over
only very small portion of history con-
corning tho Anglo-snNon hound and ms
master to demonstrate tho progress Of
the chase which Ia In striking contrast
with the Oriental hound and his Mohan-
n,odan huntsman the reader Is invited
to begin again with "foxhuntlng In Eng
land" which will appear In another chap
Continued next Sunday.)