New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-05-03
FOX HUNTING
IN English Substitute for Agri-
cultural Industry.

.-asf, Filters for another years sport The
merits agree that the winds were troublesome
during the autumn and that scent was stopped
,v sharp frosts in rnfdwinter. but that the con-
5,-ions have been favorable for long runs since
February end that the shire packs have been
so.-- excellent work The running is heavier
>, -be srrine when the ground is soft and the
horses are fetlock deep in grass: Yet the riders
escs2e dust and wind and there is more life IN
,bs fox There are about two hundred packs
n the United Kingdom, and the best among
,hern such as the Fytchley, the Quorn. the Bel
xoir. the MeyneII, the Grafton and the Cottes-
more. are out four days a week from early DC
,ober TO the middle of April. and the poorest
have at least days sport One of the best
managed packs is credited with having killed
.o,fv-two brace Of foxes during the season. II
that be an average record, there may have been
WORE than eight thousand brace of foxes thrown
"a The dogs first and last, apart from the earliest
diminishing over cubs.
These foxes come high. The expenditures in
,-oI,,ed by these two hundred packs run into the
millions The annual cost of the Pytchley
,,,,r5s &c between $4,000 and $4,000, which is
-. ,,z- subscriptions from landowners and
,-;-es The Nfeynell requires a subscription of
sSaarl. and perhaps as many as a thousand
horses are maintained privately by the members.
The dogs have TO be carefully bred and syste-
-7s-ically exercised all the year round. and in
e55ition TO the kennel helpers there is large
<o-oe az stablemen 10 look after the superior
horses kept for the master, the huntsmen. the
vllippers-fn and prominent members With the
,raedinC and up-keep OF horses and dogs and
oil the incidental expenses OF hunting two, three
nv four DAYS A week for seven months in circuit
,f country from twenty to thirty miles wide.
.,,,5 mack is estimated to be worth 100000
year 70 the district. At forty-two for the sea-
son. this would average more than $1,000 a
brace,
FersarIv Is the sportsrnan's love that reckons
the cost Of the fox! It is the long run over hill
snd dale that counts with the scent strong and
the hounds in full cry. with crack of the hunts
mans whip and footing of horn. and the rush
If the excited horses the riders press in
chase. Il is pleasarter TO have handsome
brush to present to the foremost lady, and il
helps 10 keep the dogs in form when there's a
fox 10 be flung TO them 10 satisfy their thirst
for blood. but better than all else is the long
circuit OF wind swept hills and ferny hollows
with Elints Of scarlet in the spnneys, with fly
ing leaps over hedges with a glimpse now and
then Of the running fox and with the hounds
moving in a dense mass. each with his nose to
the ground and legs outstretched in a burst OF
speed That is what men live for in the hunting
shires. and the women, too. when they have
courage and vigor for hard riding day after day.
Runlors Of foreign wars the clash OF politics and
the whispers Of social gossip Of little ac-
count in comparison with this free and bracing
sport. which is the talk of the shire from jan
nary te December. a meddlesome interloper,
Who kills a fox at sight with revolver instead
Of leaving il on the edge of the woodlands. with
the risk Of being ultimately harried TO death
- & pack Of hounds and a cavalcade OF reckless
riders. makes more disturbance in a hunting
district than an Emperor who sends jocular
letter TO the First Lord Of the Admiralty.
a shire may have little value for farming or
-razing. but if il be a good hunting country it
offers occupation for well-to-do residents and
employment for swarms of underlings. In
kingdom whose agricultural resources have been
exhausted under Free Trade the pleasures of
the sCUires and landed gentry minister TO the
necessities Of the impoverished rural population.
The two hundred packs and hunting engage
ments help 10 keep poor Hodge alive, and the
sportsnen consider themselves his greatest bene-
factors. To hunting is added shooting with five
months allotted for killing grouse, partridge,
pheasant and black game, with immense tracts
Of moor 10 be preserved, with coverts TO be
stocked with birds. and with palatiaI country
houses TO be maintained for the entertainment Of
guests large scale.
The grouse drives and pheasant shoots, which
now essential 10 fashionable entertaining in
country houses. involve immense slaughter OF
birds for the pleasur Of skilled marksmen and
the expenditure or a great deal OF money IN
hospitality Yet shooting, like hunting, may be
ranked a substitute for agricultural indus
tries. since II requires the employment of a
corps Of dependents indoors and outside for its
maintenance. A Tory squire becomes most elo-
oUent over whiskey and water at midnight when
he advocates the protection of fox hunting and
shooting by law a practical measure OF re-
form for agricultural districts more useful than
two penny holdings bills and similar Radical
cTotchets.
Fox hunting has at least one advantage over
shooting. It gives women Of spirit something
70 DO They put up with shooting parties be-
cause there cannot be smart entertaining in
country houses without the guns, but they have
tresome days in writing letters exchanging Cos
sip and R2itins for the tea hour, when, unless
there has been luncheon under a tent they see
wanted with the guns when arrangements for
record bags and big drives have be scientifi-
cally made; and il is not until the dinner hour
with thu prospect Of prolonged rounds of bridge
after i, that they find any fun in the fair. In
1oX hunting they among the earliest risers
and the hardest riders, and they welcomed
On terms Of equality with men. They hear the
most stirring music Of the woodland-the baying
and Whimpering Of the hounds; their keen eyes
are usually the first 10 the fox running out
Il cover: theirs is the exhilaration Of the hot
hliltop and gorge and the brush goes to them
L 1hey are 81 ii the death, and how proud are
1ney Of the trophy, l. y. f.