The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1909-03-18
ENGLAND'S SACRED BEAST.
un"ritten Law Against Shooting Even
Hen Eating Foxes,


Down in the country the other
day there was village sensation in
which | was called upon to adiudi-
cate for the farmers assembled in
the parlor of the only village inn"
writes the London correspondent of
Town and Country. zone of their
number had shot fox which had
prowled about among the fowls for
so many nights that fowl keeping
was becoming risky business.
"The ordinary farmer does not
mind losing an occasional hen, but
reynard is greedy beast and kills
for the mere pleasure of the thing,
and the hunt does not always pay
up promptly. So here was line
point in sporting etiquette to be
settled. The farmer had shot fox.
He did not deny it. In fact, he pre-
ferred to throw out his chest with
pride, as if in defiance of all the I'M
written laws of British sport.
''Now, custom from time imme-
mortal has decreed that the fox
shall be as safe from gun and trap
as if he were sacred. He belongs to
the hounds and must be allowed to
roam through the covers and farm
yards at will, devouring what may
happen in his way. Custom, too,
demands that the hunt shall pay
the damages. The hunt generally
pays, though in innumerable cases
the secretary is well aware that he
is being swindled.
"But this particular farmer said
he had hunted for many years him
self and had never made claim for
lost hens. A year or two ago, how
ever, fox had paid a nocturnal
visit to his fowl yard and had played
havoc with the feathered denizens.
A night OF two after it happened
again. A third time the fox came
around and made most deplorable
mess Of lot of fine Wyandottes
and some expensive Buff Orping-
tons.
"Then the farmer wrote to the
hunt secretary and asked for dam
ages. The reply was that the claim
would be attended to shortly, and
at Christmas the settlement came
in the form ola ham. Thereupon
the farmer declared war on all foxes
and killed them ruthlessly. And
this was the point which puzzled the
farmers on Saturday night.
"'Jim Crawford shot fox last
year. said one of the men, and no
good has come to him since. II
amt lucky and it amt sportsman
like. Let 'em kill your hens. That's
what they are there for, and if one
hunt secretary is mean there are a
hundred who are generous
"There you have it. Sport is
sport and its rules are adamant. 1t
must, however, be put to the credit
of British hunt clubs that they
spend millions of pounds a year in
England, Wales and Ireland for the
upkeep Of the sport.
"Think of the hunters that are
bred and sold annually, the packs
of hounds, the huntsmen, the stable
people, the dozens of hangers on
who make living out of it. With
out the hounds certain districts of
England would be depopulated.
Leicestershire and the midland
counties would be almost impover-
ished if law were suddenly put in
force to make an end to the rich
mans pastime. Country houses in
nominating districts may be had al
most for the price of cottage in
Leicestershire, whereas in the
Quorn and Pytchley country coun-
try house is as expensive, if not
more so, than a London mansion.
Instead of diminishing, hunting has
grown in popular favor"