The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1911-12-22

clubs throughout the United
4 States engage in fox hunt This is
the modern survival Of the ancient
: chase that used to furnish game for
the great holiday feast.
4 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 swamps and across frozen
streams they galloped till they came
up with the fierce prey.
i In the battle that ensued the priyi-
lege of the most valorous feats, Of
undergoing the greatest danger and
lf finally administering the death
ttroke was intrusted to the noblest
Then the body of the boar was carried
back by the vassals, 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 CEN
ter Of baronial hall.
Far into morning of the next day
would the roistering 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 Of 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
mir 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. M
For persons of wealth these are ear
ly 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
ings recalls the holiday.
Trotting behind the huntsmen and
the whippers-in come the hounds, now
quiet and businesslike, but at the
word of command ready to break into
q very babble of dog noise. Horses,
superb horses, strain eagerly at their
brides, anxious to bear their red coat
ed riders off in the chase. M
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
uOuuu 10 giving lUuBue.
There comes d ditch whose surface
is only partly frozen, the middle hav-
ing the water free. The leap Is a bad
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
Of time to worry over couple of
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 1t to keep up
with the dogs. Then come a wilder
outburst of barking and the capture
of n fox The brush Is taken and
awarded to the lucky rider who was
In 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
has turned the attention of the man of
agriculture to the delights of this hol
iday ride. He has mounted his best
horse and Joined In the race. He, too
returns home to n hearty dinner to tell
what 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 II results in more
Christmas killings of foxes.
The wild. rough country of Virginia
makes directly following behind the
hounds a hazardous, II not impossible,
performance. This gives rise to the
distinetively American style of hunt
Ing, which Is to LET the bounds work
much of the time alone. the hunter fol-
lowing only In spirit catching
glimpse Of the flying pack occasional
ly, or. guided by their musical baying,
lying 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 II still Ia the favorite
sport OF the elite at Christmas time.
Virginia's early settlers first introduc-
I'd 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
ing MS part Of her accomplish.
and hundreds of the bellies
ke n five rail fence as easily MS
q graceful figure in n minuet