Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-12-29
CHRISTMAS FOX
HUNT IN AMERICA

members OF many country
clubs throughout the United
: States engage n fox hunt. This Is
the modern survival Of the ancient
chase that used to furnish game for
the great holiday feast.
Long ago In the middle ages before
the day of markets, OF storage houses
or refrigerator cars the lord and vas
sails shared the traits of the lion and
scorned to eat that which they did not
kill. AT daybreak on the morning Of
the holiday the chieftain summoned
the men OF his clan. and to horse they
went In pursuit of the wild boar.
Across hills and level stretches.
through swanps and across frozen
streams they galioped till they came
up with the fierce prey.
In the battle that ensued the privi-
lege Of the most valorous feats. of
undergoing the greatest danger and
of finally administering the death
stroke was fntrusted to the noblest.
Then the body Of the boar was carried
back by the yassals, the body roasted
and the head garnished and decorated
to take the place of honor in the cen
ter of some long table laid In the cell
ter of baronial hall.
Far into morning Of the next day
would the FOSTERING continue, and
the poor gentleman who could drink
only one bottle was destined to sad
experiences In this bout of mighty
bibblers.
The boar has passed from the earth.
No longer does the lord kill his own
Christmas feast, but in small measure
he revives the joys &c the holiday
hunt by his pursuit. Of sly reynard.
There are In the United States seven
ty first class clubs devoted to the
sport Of fox hunting. The season be-
gun at Thanksgiving day is at its
height by Christmastide, for then the
air is crisp with frost. and the last of
the crops that hunters might have
damaged have been gathered into the
barn and safely stored away.
For persons Of wealth these are ear
iy risers who, at Z o'clock in the morn
ing, have gathered near the clubhouse.
One comrade joins another, and a
merry exchange of Christmas greet
1ngs recalls the holiday.
Trott1ng behind the huntsmen and
the whippers-in come the hounds, now
quiet and businesslike, but at the
word Of command ready to break into
a very babble OF dog noise. Horses,
superb horses, strain eagerly at their
brides, anxious to bear their red coat
ed riders or In the chase.
The master Of the hounds gives his
word of command, and across corn
field the mad Christmas race starts.
To the first fence comes the mad cav
alcade. 1t is high one. Over, under
and through the bars scramble the
dogs. Grandly on his horse the mas
ter takes the fence. Others follow,
some not SO gracefully. Some one
falls, but the race goes on. all eager
to reach that place where in front the
hound is giving tongue.
There comes a ditch whose surface
Is only partly frozen, the middle hay
one, with the footing covered with Ice,
but one after another the hunters put
their steeds at it. Some slip and
scramble, splashing seas OF mud on
their riders, but none cares. Too great
is the joy Of getting over without loss
pounds Of mud added to the weight Of
what the gallant horse must carry.
A level stretch Is reached. The thor
oughbreds are put to it to keep up
with the dogs. Then come wilder
outburst Of barking and the capture
OF fox. The brush is taken and
awarded to the lucky rider who was
an at the death.
Then the party turns sedately back.
the excitement of the day over. The
dogs are returned to the kennel, the
horses are carefully rubbed down, the
participants In the hunt have their
shower bath and are ready to dress
for dinner after the most exciting and
enjoyable start Christmas day can
well have.
Not only members Of the clubs have
taken part In this chase. The growing
good will between farmer and hunter
las turned the attention Of the man OF
agriculture to the delights Of this hol,
aday ride. He has mounted his best
horse and joined In the race. He. too,
returns home to hearty dinner to tell
what a good time he had.
In less aristocratic clubs, such as the
many organizations Of farmers are in
various parts Of the country. the hunt
Is less ornate, but 1t results in more
Christmas Killings Of foxes.
The wild. rough country Of Virginia
makes directly following behind the
hounds hazardous, If not impossible,
performance. This gives rise to the
distinctively American style Of hunt
ing, which is to let the hounds work
much OF the time alone, the hunter fol
lowing only in spirit. catching q
glimpse Of the flying pack OCCASIONAL
~, or, guided by their musical baying
trying to catch up at the next station.
In Kentucky the Christmas hunt is
held at night, on Christmas eve.
The fox hunt is an importation from
England, where 1t still Is the favorite
sport Of the elite at Christmas time
Virginia's early settlers first introduc
ed the custom into the colonies, and
General George Washington was one
Of the most famous Of fox hunters
The colonial girl was educated to FOX