The Washington herald., 1912-01-14
Py ELLA WHEELER WILCOX.

The beautiful Indian summer weather
OF Thanksgiving Day woke the spirit OF
true thanksfulness. humanitarianism,
Christianity. and love in the hearts OF a
crowd OF Americans blessed with money.
leisure. and health
They said: 1T is a glorious day; let US
go out and frighten and kill one of Gods
harmless creatures"
So they mounted their thoroughbred
horses, and away they went after red
fox which was happy In the golden
weather. perhaps thinking Of its baby fox
somewhere IN the woods awaiting it's re-
turn.
They sent out the hounds to find the
fox and soon there was a loud baying OF
dogs, and the fox was flying for its life.
II ran for a mile or more with that ter
ror in its heart which only the hunted
can feel and these cultured. Christian
men and women. who give large sums OF
money to convert the heather. were hav-
ing the best time OF the year.
1t was such JOY such elevating, ex-
hilaratlng ennobling pleasure to see that
fox trying to escape the sounds, and to
know Il was sure to be set upon by them
and killed
To be first in at the death. that was the
high, holy. and sweet aim of every
woman's heart in that cultivated crowd.
Suddenly the frightened fox came to a
house with open windows, where the in
mates were packing, preparatory to a
move.
The fox leaped through the porch ban
nisters and dived through a lower win
dow into the house. With a quick turn
he bolted into the hall. ran up the stairs.
scampered across other rooms TO the
front hall. down the stairs, and out q
front window.
Killing for Pleasure.
Then came the pack The leader
bounded through the window Just as the
fox had done and followed his tran
through the house and out the front
window. The other dogs dashed through
an open door and took up the scent
in the house, racing through It and
then out the front window.
The hunters now were all about the
house For. a few seconds they seemed
to lose their bearings. but the bay OF
the dogs in the front again brought them
gaIloping after the pack.
The fox was fast losing ground. For
a mile farther on he led the dogs. Then
the leader overlook him.
The exhausted, terrified animal was
killed by the dogs, and then one beauti-
full woman ian ideal for tender mother
hood and lovely, compassionate woman
hood achieved the great honor OF be-
ing first in at the death, and To her
was given that trophy of trophies. the
brush. otherwise the tail OF the fox.
II was a wonderful moment: a Won
derful hour, and American womanhood
received n great uplift.
There were. perhaps, twenty other
women. all trying to do this lofty deed
and TO carry away this mark of honor.
and all Of them envy the winner OF the
brush. But all OF them have at least
the pride of. being participators in such
a glorious pastime, and they have the
hope that some day before long they,
too. may be first 10 see the death agony
OF some harmless, harried. frightened lit
tie animal and to receive its tail as a
prize.
But the fact remains written In Ma
ture's enduring handbook that no wOm-
and In ht to be n mother, or Mt to call
herself q Christian, or even to be
thought of Rs n good woman, who can
ind pleasure in witnessing the death
of n harmless animal set upon by dogs
and men for the sport of idle minds.
Whatever may be her birth. her breed |