The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-22
ARE YOU READY FOR
XMAS RABBIT HUNT?
JOYS Of the Chase on Snow
shoes; Molly's Strange
Habit Brings Capture.
MUSIC OF THE HOUNDS
ny KENNETH w. GoLDTHwAITE
~ bunny Ia not built to night;
In running Is his strength
To shun n gun n bun will run

n
In running Is his strength
To shun gun bun will run
To almost any lensth.''
The poet who sings so justly and
beautifully OF the rabbit may or may not
have held the same high regard OF the
rabbit as food that tho late Grover
cleveland entertained. Some people"
wrote the eN-President OF the United
states. speak sliEhtingly OF the rabbits
eating qualities. This must be an abject
surrender TO fad or fashion, At any
tate It is exceedingly unjust 10 tho cotton
tail: and one who can relish tender
chicken and refuse TO eat a nicely cooked
rabbit is, believe, victim OK UNI
founded prejudces."
Now we have the rabbit established
In a certain we'll recognized place IN
poetry and song, and we also have him
about TO he served as tho piece de re-
hsance Of the Christmas day luncheon.
Having determined to have rabbit for
luncheon on Christmas Day we must
now get the rabbit, being placed very
much in the same predlcament as tho
boy who was told by his mother that
he minister was coming 10 dinner and
she had to have woodchuck.
Implements of the Hunt.
In the place OF the boys digging I'M
PIGMENTS we get out the twelve gauge.
double barrelled shotgun--although some
authorities say that tho sixteen gauge
will do--some fifteen or twenty shells,
end then proceed TO armor ourselves.
not against the attack of the furry
nuadruped, but against snow--snow that
hangs from every limb and bush, that
Piles high upon every felled tree trunk
and stump. that rises in mounds over
Every brush pile-snow that falls down
tho back of the neck as you stoop to
tvoid low hanging balsHm bough. and
rnow that Creeps up your sleeve as you
trip OH your snowshoes and fall,
toward of one pair of pants is neces-
Fary IL YOU propose to do any sitting
turing the day. but then no decent man
will shoot a rabbit while sitting.
This all leads up to the music
Bryan used TO furnish our music. He
was a red cocker. named by an ardent
silver Democrat after a man who be-
rame famous when he rejected the cross
of gold. Bryan of the rabbit runway
did not have a silver voice. but he hard
carrying voice: Il was the basso pro-
fundo in the chorus OF lighter voiced.
although equally eager beagles
Bryan, however. was getting old, or
at least well along the trail of years.
OF the holidays We should have another
dog at least. Six North Woods Nimrods
were to comprise the party Of this pre-
Christmas Day hunt Yes, We must
have another dog.
S65 Importation from Vermont, a
black cocker with white star on his
breast was obtained. His name was
lfdo. Although Bryan had worked in
harmonious accord with our two North
Woods beagies. the introduction OF Edo
20 Bryan was not over promising; In
fact, il limited of discordant notes in the
ringing of the welkin later IN the DAY,
The introduction came near prec!pitating
fight then and there.
Hounds Tune Up.
We wero able, however. TO get thu
four dogs, six men with guns. the sand
wiches and the rest of the outfit loadet
upon woods Jumper. The driver o
the sled sat very close to the tail OF tn,
big roam mare. We all agreed that
rabbits life that day was not worth Ia
footprint IN the snow.
The number OF tracks found woult
sound to the most Of people 10 be almos
Incredible. 1t did seem to us MS thougl
there were enough tracks so that Bryal
could have ten different tracks all &
himself and leave almost ~ 70
The star breasted SCI '.'.. ..;4t..g iron
Vermont. with fair measure for tn
tNo beagles.
IN the tuning Up chorus the hound
pwoke a noddlng, pink eyed bunny. ant
ne started away up hill and though h
had received an injection of 'steen thou
sand electric needles There was not
gun ready, but of course Bryan and TIL
Vermont Fido had to take after that on
pAfa NhAr To-,
the dog 6ght started.
Stars and Stripesl Smothered growl
and yelps About this time. or az nea
as we could determine afterward, TIL
was the time that the entire rabbi
population OF that particular SWAN
legged It over the barrens to the mex
swamp, or possibly the third swamp re
moved
We separated the dogs and IA
Charley Williams. who did not like I
walk anyway and who had secreted
fresh, Juicy magazine in his hip pocket
vowed tina the would hold Fido while VI
Took Bryan and went on with the hunt
There was not the slightest objection 4
this strategy.
Now you fellows be sure and com
hack and get me-" called Charley afte
Us as We started on with the hunt
~oh, yes" We would certainly return
Picking Up Rabbit Tracks.
In the swamp on tho other side o
he ridge wa picked UP more rabbi
tracks and indignant Bryan IL out. TIL
nuS.c OF his baying was heard. acros
tfa swamp. 1t was an exhilaratin
s'accato, increasing in its pitch as h
gained on the scent of the fleeing rabbit
"Bang!" went gun, but It turned GU
that the man who held the gun wa
purely overjOyed to nervousness. A rab
OF poked up a head and escaped ap
perently unhurt, although four loads o
shot were sent after him.
Suddenly the music stopped. Their
was dead silence. The silence wa
broken by dog fight Six mon tried Z
run on snowshoes and they finally d.
reach the scene. laden with snow tina
melted and ran TO their perspiring shini
As feared. there was Fldo. Aroun
lIdo's neck was a very considerable par
ot Charley Williams's suspenders. Char
ley came along through the balsams hol
iering
Five men demanded to know what ha
happened.
4 tied Ffdo TO a tree with my sus
penders." declared Charley, land h
busted EN-" Charley was IN rather
bad way. .'f ~
Why didn't you hold him by The col
hrr asked Garry Smith.
Yank." said Charley. "And walk o
yonr head. I'm goin' TO shoot the pssis
Tho life OF the star beast, who's
every ounce had cost money at the rat
o. more than a dollar a pound, wa