New-York tribune., 1906-12-05
ST. HUBERT.
How His Festal Day Was Celebrated Of

Legend tells how Hubert son of Bertrand
Duke of Guienne. at one time a great courtier Of
Theodoric King Of the Franks and of Pepin
d'Heristal. was so inordinatey fond of the chase,
that even Holy Week put no restraint on his
ruling passion. till on a certain Good Friday
when hunting In the forest Of the Ardennes he
encountered white stag bearing between his
horns an appariton of tho crucifx. Tho death
OF his wife. F1oribane and the shock Of the
miraculous warning completely changed his
fnooe OF life. and after several years In a her.
mitage. he entered the priesthood dying Bishop
Of Mastricht in 727. His body was placed origi-
nally in the Church Of St Pierre, at Liege, but
was transferred on November g. 81, to the Ben
ediction Abbey Of Andain. in the Ardennes. and
the fact that during the interval since his death
his remains had suffered no apparent decay
added greatly to the sanctity of his tomb. which
became an object of pilgrimage. The exhuma
ton Of st. Hubert is the subject of fifteenth
century painting OF the Flemish school in the
National Gallery.
Even before the Revolution, the patron Of
hunting evidently becoming neglected in
France, for II is with regret that LIE Verrier de
la Contere. the Seigneur DAmigny. thinks of
the saints days of long ago His account Of
such day. of which give translation.
makes fitting close to the great hunts Of the
past and their nobler place in art.
Here in the town Auxerre) a lively and noisy
crowd filled the church, then. mass barely fin
ished, rushed with uproar into the plain, into
the woods, into the of the seigneur for
plain. wood and selgneur's warren were open
and all the game. which dogs OF all breeds and
of any kind could reach. fair prize
the grand day of ST. Hubert. 1t was the
peoples hunt. the orgy of St. Hubert!
But there is the country, at the chapel of the
old manor house or better STILL in the depths
of the forest, a crumbling altar, raised by a
pilgrim to st. Hubert or to Our Lady of the
Woods priest. reading in smoke stained
missal, hurried the mass TO the blessed patron:
the huntsmen crowded round, standing and
bareheaded. with horns hung from their necks
and hunting knives at their belts: the keepers
holding the hounds in packs, the whippers-in
restraining under the whip the tractabe i'm
patience Of the coupled dogs; further off, horses.
fastened up, paving the ground. quiverfng with
excitement. and completing the picture which
the great woodland roof covered with Its re-
ligious shade. At the conservation the horns
sounded the st. Hubert. At this we'll loved
noise the horses neighed, the hounds bayed with
disturb the peaceful socitude of the forest.
Meanwhile the priest blessed the huntsmen 8
bread, which should the kennel from the
scourge of hydrophobia for a year. Then. as
the last prayer left their lips. the hunters were
in the saddle, and the jocund company hurried.
for the scent excellent, and the broken
branches well scattered, and success certain for
the pious disciples of the great st. Hubert.
Quickly the forest became animated with a new
life at the joyous talk of the huntsmen and the
pleasant clamor of the hounds, the quarry
bounded from its lair, and the chase started en-
thusiastic and excited. Oh! fine hunt the
hunt of St Hubert! Then In the evening,
around the hearth, they told marvellous hunting
stories and artess tales; they handed down the
traditions and instructions Of the noble art of
hunting; they read the great masters the chival-
rous PhRbus the worthy Du Fouilloux, quaint
and simple witness OF the manners of his time.
Ali ST. Huberts day IL was kept by our
fathers grand day."-Art Journal