The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-12-10
ENGLAND'S SACRED BEAST.
u-.sristsn Law Against sheStins Ever
Hen EATING Foxea

down in the country the other
aay There was a village sensatioa in
which ! was called upon to adjudi-
cate for the farmers assembled in
the parlor Of the only village inn. .
writes the London correspondent Of
Town and Country. "One 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 a greedy beast and kills
for the mere pleasure Of the thing,
and the hunt does not always pay
up promptly. So here was a fine
point in sporting etiquette 10 be
settled. The farmer had shot fox.
He did not deny il. In fact, he pre-
ferred TO throw out his chest with
pride. as il in defiance Of all the I'M
written laws Of British sport.
Now, custom from time imme-
mortal has decreed that the fox
shall Le as safe from gun and trap
as Il he were sacred. He belongs to
the hounds and must be allowed to
roam through the covers and farm
yards at will. devouring what NAV
happen in his way. Custom, too,
demands that the hunt shall paw
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 a claim for
lost hens. \ year or two ago, how
ever. fox had paid a nocturnal
yisi, to his fowl yard and had PLAYED
havoc with the feathered denizens.
\ night or two after it happened
Agnin. A third time the fox came
rround and made most deplorabls
mess Of a lot Of fine Wysndottes
AID some expensive BuS Orping-
tons.
Then the farmer wrote TO the
hunt secretary and asked for dam
ages. The reply was that the claim
would lie attended TO shortly, and
1t Christmas he settlement came
4 tho fern cf-a nam. Thereupon
The farmer declared war on all foxes
md killed them ruthlessly. And
his vas the point which puzzled the
'armers on Saturday night.
Jim Crawford shot q fox last
rear, said one Of the men, and no
rood has come TO him since. II
int lucky and it amt sportsman
ike. Let EN- XII your hens. That's
What they are t5ere for, and If one
lunt secretary Is mean there are
who are generous
There YOU have il. Sport Is
port and its rules are adamant. II
must, however, be put to the credit
4 British hunt clubs that they
pend millions Of pounds a year in
England, Wales and Ireland for the
Ipkeep OF the sport.
think of the hunters that are I
red and sold annually, the packs
4 hounds. the huntsmen, the stable
'eople, the dozens Of Hangers on
-ho make a living out of IT. With
ut the hounds certain districts Of
England would be depopulated. :
.eicestershire and the midland
ounties would be almost impovsr-
shed if law were suddenly put in
orce to make an end to the rich ,
mans pastime. Country houses in
onhunting districts may be had o.
most for the price Of a cottage in ,
.eicestershire, whereas in the
luorn and Pytchley country coun- I
ry house is as expensive, il not
more so, than a London mansion. {
instead of diminishing. hunting has
roun in r,onnlar favorn