The Washington herald., 1907-12-22
CHRISTMAS FOX HUNT
YuIetide Custom Survives
from Middle Ages.
BECOMES A SOCIAL EVENT
Like BarOns and VaSsaIs Who
Chased the Festive Boar, Ameri-
can Club Members Throughout
the Country, Have Merry Chase
at ChristmRS-Start in Morning.

The Christmas fox hunt. observed by
prominent clubs all over the country. is
the modern survival of the ancient chase
that used to furnish game for the great
holiday feast.
Long ago in the Middle Ages, before the
day Of markets, of storago-houses. or
refrigerator ears. the lord and vassals
shared the traits Of the lion, Snd scorned
to eat that which they aid not Kill.
At daybreak on the morning of the
holiday. the chieftain summoned the men
Of his clan, the horse they went I'm pur-
suit Of the wild boar. Across hills and
level stretches. through sWamps, over
fences. across frozen streams they galiop-
ed, till they came up with the fierce prey.
In the battle that ensued the privilege
of the most valorous feats. OF undergoing
the greatest danger. aud of finally ad-
ministering the death stroke was intrust-
cd TO the noblest
Then the body Of the boar was carried
back by the vassals. the body roasted.
and the head garnished and decorated TO
take the place OF honor in the center or
some long tables laid in the center OF a
baronial hall
Far into morning of the next day would
the registering continue. and the poor gen
tleman who coulc drink only one bottle
was destined 90 sad experiences in this
bout Of mighty bibblers.
The boar has passed from the earth. no
longer does the lord KIN his own Christ
mas feast but IN srau measure be re-
wives the joys of the holiday hunt by his
pursuit OF sly reynard.
There are I'm the United States seventy
clubs. iirst-class clubs. devoted 20 the
sport of fox hunting The season be-
gun at Thanksgiving Day is at its height
by Christmas-tide, FOR then the autumn
leaves have colored and fallen. the air
is crisp with frost. and tue last OF the
crops that hunters might have damaged
have been gathered into the barn and
safely stored away.
Early Morning start
For persons OF wealth these are early
risers who. ut O'Clock. IN the morning,
have gathered near the clubhouse One
comrade Joins another, and a merry ex-
change of Christmas greetings recalls
the holiday
Trottne behind the huntSman and the
whippers-in come the hounds, now quiet
and busincss-like. but al the word OF
command ready TO break into very
bable Of dog noise. Horses, superb
horses. strain eagerly at their brides.
anxious 20 bear their relocated rider
of in the chase.
The master OF the hounds gives his
word Of command. and across a corn
field the mad Christmas race starts
To the first fence comes the mad caval-
cade. tt Is a high one. over. under and
through the bars scramble the gods
Grandly on his four-ye8r-old the master
takes the fence. others follow, some not
/ so gracefully, one falls but the race
goes on, all eager 20 reach that place
where in front the hound is giving tongue
and excited imagination has painted a
mental picture Of the crafty fox. hard
I pressed. but using every one Of his fac
Ulties IN the effort 10 save life
Run in 60 the Death.
There comes ditch whose surface
I is only partly frozen. The leap is a
bad one with the footing covered with
/ ice, but one after another the hunters
put their steeds AT II. Some slip and
| scramble, splashing seas of mud on their
riders. but none care. Too great is the
/ JOY Of getting over without loss of time
I % worry over Il couple Of pounds Of mud
added 20 the weight OF what the gal
/ liant horse must carry
/ level stretch is reached The thor
oughbreds are put 20 IL 20 keep up with
/ the dogs. Then comes a wilder out
break OF barking. This has been a more
/ than usually successful Christmas hunt.
( II has actually resulted in that rare
event-the capture of fox The brush