New-York tribune., 1907-09-27
CITBB[NG AT ALThORP.
W;th the PytchIcg Hounds m
Training.
Holdenby. September "A

Holdenby, September A
r.h,f,g Is the curtain raiser for the stirring
.-.-,a of fox hunting. II begins late In August
s &c continued during September, and by the
I'D Of October the pack IS in fun cry after the
,-roNn fox and the sport goes on during the
,snter. Cubs are young foxes without brusheS
vporth having and they are hunted early IN the
ssason for two purposes. First there are TOO
.,.nv of them in the breeding places and it is
necessary to scatter them and to thin them
o,,t and secondly. the puppies in the pack have
~ be trained for the regular hunting season
The cub hunt is an irregular muster of forces
md ts conducted in a democratic spirit, anybody
who chooses TO get up early and TO appear at
.te meet being welcomed The fox hunt is more
exclusive. the privilege Of attending it being re-
served for subscribers to the fund for the main
tenance Of the pack. Clubbing comes when the
hedges are in full leaf, and it is impossible to
see through them. It is mild sport, since there
can be no jumping of fences and hedgerows, and
gates have to be opened for the riders. As the
cub goes from one covert to another. followed
by hounds, the two huntsmen and pair of
wfippers-in. every one rides hard and fast. and
when the scent is lost and the dogs are beating
up the thicket the riders are outside waiting for
another gallop when the frightened young fox
shall -eappear and for his life with the dogs
streaming after him athirst for his blood. a
good part Of the morning is spent by the COM
pany in standing around copses and by the
trainers IN whipping IN the puppies and teaching
them how TO settle down TO work with the old
dogs It is a campaign of education. which
ables horsenen and hounds to get into form for
the genuine sport later on; yet il is not with
out its thrill OF excitement and picturesque col
oring.
n1a ~ MO- Of fha Tz-fcf
Hounds has been in Althorp Park in front OF
Lord Spencer's stately residence. BY s o'clock
there was muster Of forty riders-five of them
ladies-an mounted on horses trained for hunt
ing. Lord Annaly. the Master Of the Pytchley
pack. was there with his two young daughters.
and his predecessor in charge of the kennels at
Brixworth, Lord Spencer, was also in the sad
die with Lord Althorp's two sons. The two
huntsmen in scarlet with blue caps were in the
centre OF the pack Of between thirty and forty
hounds, black white and brown. and the whip
pers-in were lashing the struggling puppies and
driving them into the main group. Further
back were the country doctor. the parsons nag.
a wiry little farmer good terms with every
body and the remaining riders-a mixed lot;
and a group Of stablemen were in charge of a
dozen extra horses reserved for the huntsmen
and Master. With crack of whip and footing of
the fox holes had been plugged up overnight,
and then was heard the most stirring music of
the vvoodlands-the whimpering Of the hounds
The pace was slow first. for the hounds were
not on the scent and had not warmed to the
work: but it was quickened until it was too
fast for the puppies. and they had TO be whipped
into line The huntsmer with their glints OF
scarlet were in the spinneS with the hounds
cracking their whips and urging them on; and
the Master and Lord Spencer halted at the gate
and the riders. with frightened rein, stood about
waiting for cub TO be started. With the dew
still the grass the scent was strong and It
not long before the hounds in tzvos and
threes. Were making for a fence The young
fox had out Of cover into a wide expanse
cf verdure. Tally-hoi The excited horses could
with difficulty be restrained when they heard
the baying Of the hounds and saw them moving
in a dense mass. each with nose to the ground
and legs outstretched and carried along in
burst OF speed. gate was opened and the
caValcade, filing through the gap in the hedge
rows. scattered across the field in mad rush
Foremost among them was Lord Spencer, once
known as the Red Earl. but now white bearded
He had lost the Premiership twice by as narrow
q rub any poor fox could have in his dark
woods but what Inattered II when the hounds
Were whimpering and the huntsmen were blow
ing THEN horns and seeking 10 head up the run
away cub,
The first fox was not caught. Either because
the troublesome puppies worried the older
hounds with their pranks. or because the coverts
were too close and the hedgerovys too con-
venient he got away after a long chase. The
second cub was not so lucky. After leading the
company a long chase over hill and dale, he was
finally rounded up in q spinney- Head and
brush were cut off and the body was flung to the
pack. and if any unframed puppy had morsel
Of ii he got the taste for blood. which he would
never forget. When the dogs came out of the
copse many were blood stained. and with frantic