The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-04-15
AT THE HOTELS.

Mo. at the National, last night, that
st. Joseph is now the residence OF one
Of the greatest and best known importers
Of Percheron draft horges in America.
only a week ago the manager Of this
concern, Mr.. Charles r. Kirk, started
for Paris for the purpose Of selecting
and purchasing a collection Of the best
Percheron stations TO be found in the
famous Perch districts Of France. Mr..
Kirk will remain in Perch until Sep
TENDER, when he viii return 10 this
country with his array Of splendid stall
lions. which, during next winter. will
be sold and scattered throughout the
States Of the Middle West for the splen-
did purpose Of improving the horse stock
OF the American farmers.
In September Of last year Mr.. Kirk
imported forty-three head Of these Won
derful draft horses. This is his twenty
first annual trip 10 France, and each
year he has brought over Percheron stall
lions Of the very best breeding and type
procurable. The Percheron horse is rec
ognized as the worlds greatest draft
horse, and It is noteworthy that the
champion stallion OF France last year
was bought by an American importer
and won the grand championship at
the Chicago International Livestock Ex-
position IN December Mr.. Kirk being one
OF the judges. This animal was sod az
the exposition for $1,000.
1T Is not generally known among the
farmers" continued Mr.. Carter. that
considerable fraud has been practicec in
the draft horse business during the
last several years, and that il Is beng
guarded against now. Several hose
takers made a practice Of buying ID
grade colts from the farmers In certain
sections, fitting blank foreign pedigres
10 these colts, and selling them as pue
bred imported stations to farmers h
other sections. After It became inpos
sible TO secure blank foreign pedigree
pedigree print shops In this country &C
commOdated the grafters by furnishing
blank pedlgrees which were fitted 10 the
grade and cross-bred colts. and then
young American horse flesh with the new
names and the manufactured ancestors
were paraded as high-priced pure bred
Americans horses and sold at fancy
prices
"Other cases OF fraud occurred where
valuable animals took the expensive exit
Of death. A good colt was sought in the
country similarly marked to the deadmon-
arch, numbered on the foot or neck. ac-
commodated with the name OF the de-
parted. marked UP as a descendant Of
the others ancestor, and presto, Who
could tell that there had been death OF
a valuable horse and a substitution in his
placer"
Perry H Lancaster, OF Bristol, England.
is at the New Willard. Mr.. Lancaster is
an enthusiastic sportsman. and. spanking
Of the sports OF England. said that packs
Of hounds hunted by persons on f,ot IS
one OF the most distinctive sports q the
British Isles. and in no other part c the
globe is this ancient form Of the base
perpetuated.
Centuries ago. the hare, roe, fox. bar,
wolf, otter. badger. martin polecat. wheat.
and squirrel were all hunted afoot, ,ut
the ennui of advanced civilization 5ld
high living produced much adipose t.
sue, so naturally the horse became neco-
sary 70 carry the helpless ones acros
country. OF course these animals al
not all hunted to-day. but there are es
tablished packs followed on foot for al
least three Of them-the fox, hare. and
otter. The former two are the quarry
for winter and the latter for summer.
Formerly these foot packs were paronized
principally by men OF limited means, who
could not afford the luxury OF 3o0-guinea
hunter. but the craze for walking and
open air exercise has drawn recruits 10
the ranks OF the foot hunters, and Eng
land. Ireland. and Wales have exception
ally active seasons OF the sport
ITO belong 10 ore Of these foot packs,
a huntsman incurs very little expense.
There is a yearly subscription. which Is
nominal. and very hunting day a man
attends the meet his outlay viii be about
s., with perhaps now and again some
trifing railroad fare. Yet. withal foot
hunting Is no pastime for weaklings or
those with any physical defects. Four
OF five hours jauut over the hills and
mOorlands on 'Shanks mare Is test
enough for the stoutest heart. and be-
sides a man must have good legs, sound
lungs, and keen eyesight. II he IS not
able 10 keep UP with the pack. he misses
the best part Of the sport: consequently
only Eood stayers are to be found afer
the foot packs. Generally they are 10
keenest Of sportsmen. for they love tie
science Of hunting, and study the natur.l
habit Of the quarry, its venery AMI
woodcraft"