The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-04-15

A FOX HUNTER'S TALE.

Professor John F. Draughon, of
Nashville, Tenn, who doubtless owns
one of the best packs of fox hounds
In this country, while talking with
several fox hunter friends recently,
told some practical jokes on himself.
What makes the stories more inter-
esting is that Professor Draughon is
a man of considerable means, being
president of thirty business colleges,
the biggest chain of business colleges
in the world.
One of the stories related by Pro-
fessor Draughon is as follows:
"One of my greatest pleasures
perhaps my greatest-is to take some
of my friends in my automobile with
the trailer attached-the former car
rying five passengers, the latter carry
ing fifteen or twenty dogs-and go to
the country for recreation.
Some time ago | had an engage
nent with party of gentlemen
Captain T. M. Steger, his son VIII,
]. ]. Anderson and Judge McMor-
rough-to go on chase. They were
very enthusiastic in the matter, ex-
pecting to emerge from the chase full
fedged, experienced hunters. Wish
Ing to get as early start as possible,
and being naturally of a hospitable
disposition, l invited them to dine
with me. They declined my invita-
ton, pleading impossibility to leave
their business as one excuse, and
fear that l would not give them
enough to eat as another; and as /
would have to go through town to
reach the hunting ground selected,
they proposed to join me in town. /
agreed to this, as also to the hour and
meeting place they suggested. The
place of meeting was on Broad street,
near the depot, at p. n. / rushed
home, made the necessary prepara-
ton, and drove hurriedly back to
town, stopping at the appointed place,
but as l arrived little before the
time agreed upon, the colored boy
who looks after my dogs asked per-
mission to bum around town for
awhile, which was granted.
|
away the time by watching the nu-
merous passers-by. In a few min
utes travelling man, on his way to
the train, stopped and looked at the
outfit and me. He began to admire
the trailer attached to the auto, it be-
ing, as he said, the first vehicle of the
kind he had ever seen or heard of.
He then began to notice the dogs,
asking, Whose dogs are they?'
They are Professor Draughon's dogs
/ replied. How long said he, have
you been working with dogs?' 4
have been working with dogs off and
on all my life,' said L. He next made
this inquiry: Are you fond of hunt
ing?' l replied: I am very fond of
hunting. He then became more COM
municative, furnishing me with the
following particulars about himself:
While l am a travelling man, I am
also member of hunting club in
the North. Our club owns a kennel,
and we have some very fine hounds.
| notice, however, remarkable diff
ference between these hounds and
ours. Isee that Professor Draughon's
houndr are marked black, white and
tan, English style. They are the
most beautiful dogs | have ever seen.
| have no doubt but that the South
has better fox hunds than we have,
because Southern people know better
how to train fox hounds than we do.
And, by the way, do you know where
we could get man to train our fox
hounds-some one who is fond of
hunting and has the Southern expert
ence in the work. l replied: No, l
do not know where you could get
such a man; it is very difficult to get
good man, one who understands his
business and who is reliable
About that time the traveller spied
brush lying in the car. OF course,
the brush Immediately got all his at
tention. You have a brush here, l
see, said he; and it is from a red
fox, too Yes, replied, we always
carry one along for good luck 4
would certainly like to have that
brush he said. l preserved digni-
fed silence in response to his implied
request for the brush; in fact, | was
rather opposed to parting with it. He
continued to admire it, however, say
ing: 1t is the most beautiful brush l
ever saw, and there is nothing I
would like better or appreciate more
than brush from Southern fox
could stand his importunings no long
er, SO | said: Take the brush home
with you. 1t is a fine one, but Pro-
fessor Draughon has more at home
/ His gratitude wGs overwhelming.
With all my heart l thank you,' he
said. I shall preserve this brush as
long as live Then, taking a quar-
ter from his pocket, he handed it to
me, with these words: Here, my
man, take this and buy you some ci-
gars to take with you to the chase
1t is needless to say that l was visibly
touched with such liberality. He then
took from his pocket card, and,
writing in the left hand corner the
name of the kennel club of which he
was member he handed the card to