The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1911-12-21
: CHRISTMAS FOX
: HUNT IN AMERICA

| Clubs tnrOuEnuut the JnIe0
States engage in fox hunt This is
the modern survival of the ancient
the great holiday feast.
| Long ago in the middle ages before
the day of markets, of storage houses
4 Or refrigerator ears the lord and vas
sails shared the traits of the lion and
scorned 10 eat that which they did not
kill. At daybrcals 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 swa.nps and across frozen
streams they galloped till they came
UP with the fierce prey.
In the battle that cnsued the privi-
!cge of the most va!orous fcats. Of
| undergoing the greatest danger and
Of finally administering the death
stroke. was intrustcd to the noblest.
Then the body of the boar was carried
back by the vassais. the body roasted
and the head rarnished and decorated
to take the place of honor in the cen
ter OF some long table laid in the cen
ter OF Il 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
bibbIcrs.
The boar has passed from the earth.
No longer does the lord kill his owD
Christmas feast. but in small measure
he revlves 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 Mt 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
ly risers who. at o'clock in the morn
Ing. have gathered near the clubhouse
One comradc joins another. and O
merry exchange of Christmas greet
ngs recalls the holiday.
Trotting behind the huntsmen and
the whippersin come the hounds. now
quiet and businesslikc. but at the
word Of command ready to break into
II very babble of dog noise. Horses.
superb horses. strain eagerly at their
brides, anxious to bear their red coat
cd riders on in the chase.
The master Of the hounds gives his
word of command. and across a corn
field the mad Christmas race starts
To the first fence comes the mad cav
alcade. 1t is Il 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 ditch whose surface
is only partly frozen. the middle hav-
Ing the water free. The leap is Il bad
one. with the footing covered with ice.
but one after another the hunters put
their Stccds ut it. Some slip and
| scramble. splashiny seas Of mud on
their riders. hut none cares. Too great
! is the joy of getting over without loss
OF time 10 worry over couple Of
pounds of mud added to the weight Of
what the gallant horse must carry.
! 4 level stretch is reached. The thor
u y.,,ly ,,IIf fn tn n
| with the dogs. Then come II wilder
| outburst of barking and the capture
! of Il FOX. The brush is taken and
( awarded iu 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 III the hunt have their
! shower bath and arc ready to dress
! for dinner after the most exciting and
i cninyabl" start 81 Christmas day ran
: Well have.
| Not only members of the clubs have
| taken part in This cliaS", TIL" CROWN.
| good viii between farmer ard hun.cl
mas iuIlltii lit' VI 'Il' iiI'l!l VI
agriculture 10 the delights Of this hol
iluy ride. lie has nounir.! Ills hcSl
horse and joined in the race. He. too
rciurnS hoir" to Il hearty dinner To tel
what II good time he had
In less urs,ocrltic clubs. such Us til,
many organizations of farmers are in
various parts Of the country. the hun
is less ornate. but it results in more
Christmas killings of foxes.
Tho wild. rough country Of Nirgini;
makes directly following uchind tn,
hounds II hazardous. if not impossible
pcrfornancc This gives rise +" th'
uistinctivcly Amcrican style OF hunt
ing. which is 10 le' the hounds wori
much OF the lime alone. the hunter ~.
lowing only III spirit. catching
glimpse Of The lying pack occasional
ly. or. guihch by their musica! hnyiu.
trying 10 catch M nj the next station.
In I<catucky the Christmas hunt i