The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-29
EENGLlSH TYPES
III SUIT THE t T: s. !
Breeding for Conformation / land and
Color Has Injured the Fox
hound--Thornas Assheton
" Smith, the Father Of
Sport and His
" Career.
BY James Marshall Henry.

upon Tic hunting dial.
ti, During the long and happy occupation
S of the English throne by thu t Illus
y trious huntrcss the golden nge OF field
+ sport began to dawn ana has continued,
with a spirit and grandeur Of which the
4 English hunting field alone can boast,
down past the coronation OF King ED
g ward VII. whose royal patronage con-
tlnues to advance the interest Of the no
billy In what has long since become
the national sport OF England. ,5
Nor did the clouds Of civil and foreign
war, which darkcned the land during q
period when the pages Of history were
n dyed In crimson, ever cast n gloom over
the spirt Of the English sportsman "
pursuit OF game with norge and hounds
S"Thcn peers grew proud In horsemanshiS
to excel,
Ncwmarkcts glory rose, as Britnins
fell"
s While the noblcmen OF France were
riding to the plume OF Henry OF Navarro
Il and reegnting the hound to dumb for
getfulness prey. the hunting horn III
4 England sounded merrily In war as IN,
peace and her huntsmen pursued the
chase as nlcntlcssy as they pursued
the enemy.
Beginning Of Fox Hunting.
There Is no exact date when one can
ray fox-huntng began, Hunting the
Z stag had been a popular sport In Franco 4
aud In England for centuries before the
rise Of the Somcrsets. and its Decline
I which was due to tho Increase OF en-
closures for the protection Of deer against
r lawless poarchcre, marks the beginning
OF fox hunting In England.
OF MI inventions sought out BY up
4 right man to prolong his earthly happi-
HESS. riding 10 hounds Is at once the
I most sportsmanly and manly, and cer-
. talny nature has been lavish in her ex-
ncnditures OF art In the creation OF such
& symmetry. grace, and strength MS moves
md has Its being in the horse--the
nobiest, perhaps tho most beautiful OF
Gods lower crea tIon--thnt enables the
rider to follow at the heels OF the hounds
II over hill and vale i 5
And surely man Is twice fortunate In
4 having for his pleasure another animal
which Is distinguished from n1l other
u brutes by Il hunting intelligence. refined
IS sense OF smell. musical utterance. and
1.-The lung and limb power to successful
s ~ pursue the fleet staG and the cunning
AS in England the hunting field has
\ been valuable promoter OF the Lest
quality Of horscfcsh by a requirement
for. speed. endurance. and that training
without which no hunter is capable Of
OF high class performance-wher blood
nnd intelligence tell, regardless of handl-
cap and jockeying-so has riding to
hounds, when requires the steady hand,
quick eye. cool Judgment, and unfalter-
ing nerve brought forth class of
8 sportsmen whose feas in tho saddle are
destined to remain nneScelled by sue,
5B ccedlng generation OF any county. se
. The English Red Fox.
hn al In re a Il.
en- tile deeds OF English heroes OF the
CHASE will continue to delight and In
spire the youth OF all nations and to
4 such snortsmen we are not only indebted
3 for our love OF fo&-hev,tinG. our fox
q hounds, the type OF horse best qualified
for cross-country riding. the saadle we
y glrt upon his back. tho outfit In which
we ride. but for the very hunt terms and
j field manners we use IN hunting. and
J last but not least, for the red fox of
America whose fleetncsss has stimulated
ii he breeding for stamina and speed In
8 our American kennels.
Imitation Sportsmen.
Z. Whatever criticism may be justly pro-
nnllnced upon tho class of scarlet coated
gentlemen OF tho present day who pour
i out OF London in season TO Market Ilar-
borough and other fashionable hunting
resorts. whose presence Is out OF keep
ing with everything In the hunting 4eld
except their overwecnlng concelt. and
whose acquaintance with tho science they
profess to follow Is confined to q voca-
s bulary Of hunt terms, the true meaning
OF which never dreamed OF in their I'hilos-
ophy. who while seeking to Impress the
listener with the Importance of their
Knowledge, when the chase Is on, present
NIL the confusion OF n Bull Run without
Its disonor: Icnganu can boast of a
glorious class of spOrtsmen In the past
'iir,,I ~, hn mi q a
or tho chase and supurb horsenanship
enables them to sthy In the same field
With tho hounds, not for the purpose of
presenting III the pnrlance OF the vulger
ia grand-sand play but for keen en-
joyment Of every stage OF the game
from start to finish
Such sportsmen ride to hunt, and are
with tho hounds from the gone AMY
Z ringing out clear as a bell In tho morning
air, followed by the dash OF the hounds
K as they rush through tho gorse to catch
& UP tho keynote of their leader, and In
glorious burst of speed ringing With
melody, sweep across the meadow and
over the hlll upon scent breast high, to
the last effort that changes scent to view
4 and ends the life Of n sinking fox.
Youthful Tyro,
4 10 the latter we are Indebted for nm
inspiration which win last as long as tho
q
the devotees Of the foxhound; while to
the former belongs the credit of a certain
retrograde in fox-hunting which has been
gradually taking place In England for
the last quarter OF q century, and II not
checked by n revival of the spirit OF the
past, will end in fashionable absurdlty
that can never escape tho lash Of u
sportsman's whip until It escapes his
observation, A reasonable excuse may
he mnde for the youthful tyro who as
Lord Byron describes, In riding
''He broke, It's true, some statutes OF the
or huntingdon tho sagest youth is frail;
/, Rode DER the hounds. It may be, now
and then,
And once DER several country gentle
men,"
Hut no beggardly apology will answer for
q persistent transgresslon Of the law
* which regulates the conduct 81 gentle
man in tile hunting field,
a. matter OF fact he Who had not