Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1911-12-08
/ CHRISTMAS FOX ;
: HUNT IN AMERICA

States engage IN . COZ hunt. This IL
tho modern survival Of the ancient
chase that used to furnish game for
The great holiday feast
Long ago II 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 aybreak on the morning OF
tho sciiday the chieftain summoned
tho men OF Az clan. and to horse they
went In pursuit OF tse wild boar
Across hills and level stretches.
through swxnps and across frozen
streams they galloped till they came
mp with the fierce prey.
| In the battle that ensued the pr1vi-
| Iege Of the most vAiorous feats. Of
undergoing the great danger and
Of finally administering the death
stroke WAS intrustsd to the noblest.
Then the body Of the boar was carried
back by the vassals. the body roasted
and the head garnished and decorated
10 take the place Of honor In the cen
ter Of some long table laid In the cen
ter Of baroniai hall.
Far Into morning Of the next day
would the rotstering continue. and
the poor gentleman who could drink
only one bottle was destined to snd
experiences In this bout OF mighty
bibbiers
The boar has passed frsm the earth.
No longer does the lord kill his own
Christmas feast. but In small measure
be revives the Joys Of the holiday
hunt by hts pursuit Of sly reynard.
There are In the United States seven
~ drst class clubs devoted to the
sport of fox hunting. The season be-
gun at Thanksgiving day * at It's
height by Christmastide. for then the
air Il crisp With frost. and the last OF
the crops that hunters might have
damaged have been gathered into the
barn aud safely stored away.
For persons Of wealth these are ear
~ risers who. at o'clock In the morn
Ing. have gathered near the clubhouse.
Cu9 CVuhu nue. JoAuH AhO]Hci' "uu .
merry exchange Of Christmas greet
ings recalls tho holiday.
Trotting behind the huntsmen and
the whippers-in come the hounds. now
Quiet and businesslike. but ut the
word OF command ready to break into
4 very babbls Of dog noise. Horses.
superb horses. strain eagerly ut their
brides. anxious to bear their red coat
cd riders or In the chase.
The master Of the hounds gives his
word Of command. and across a corn
field the mad Christmas rnce starts.
To the first fence comes the mad cav
alcade. 1t In a 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 10 gracefully, Some one
falls. but the race goes on. NIL eager
to reach that place where In front the
hound ~ giving tongue.
There comes II ditch whose surface
u only partly frozen. the middle hAv-
ing the water frse. The leap Il Il bad
Que. 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
II the Joy Of getting over without loss
Of time to worry over 4 couple Of
pounds Of mud added to the weight Of
what the gallant horse must carry.
A level stretch IL reached. The thor
oughbreds Mre put to 1t to keep up
with the dogs. Then come a wilder
outburst OF barking and the capture
Of u fox. The brush Is taken and
awarded to the lucky rider who was
In at the death.
Then the party turns sedately back.
tho excitement of the day over. The
dogs are returned to the kennel. the
horses nre 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 Il hearty dinner to tell
what u good time he had.
In leSS aristocrutic clubs. such as the
many organizations OF farmers are In
various parts Of the country. the hunt
n less ornate. but II results IN more
Christmas killings OF foxes.
The wild. rough country Of Virginia
makes directly following behind the
hounds hazardous. II 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. cutching n
glimpse Of the flying pack occasional
". or. guided by their musical baying
| trying to catch NJ AT the next station.
| In Kentucky the Christmas hunt is
held 1T night. on Christmas eve
| The f"x hunt Is an Importation from
England. where II s,i'. Is the savo-!:s
| sport Of the elite at Christmas time
Virgtuta's early settlers tirxt ,ntroduc-
| 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
hunting ~ part OF her accomplish