Evening star., 1926-12-05

the onward march of the British.
Victorious at the battle of Bladens-
burg. they were on their way to
Washington to destroy the headQuar-
ters of the United States Govern
ment. There were no armed forces in
Washington TO say them nay. The
militia had taken sound drubblng
the day before.
Our Capitol and Navy Yard were
ruined by fire. The Patent Office,
with it's treasured collection of plans
and models, was saved only by the
bravery of the patent commissioner:
who, calling the British "Goths and
vandals," defied them to ruin the rec
ords of science and invention. 1hat
was more than a century ago. HIS
tory has etched its records in perma-
nent pages which will he published as
long as English is read.
THE red coats are coming.
Twice week, YOU may near the
cry on the outskirts of Washington
beyond Chevy Chase, over some OF
the estates abutting the Rockville
Pike.-the famous old trails highway.
Or. perchance, it may be above
Georgetown along the notable point
to point" course. or over on the ron.
ing terrain betwixt Fort Myer and
Alexandra.
The salutation as used today Is In
troductory of the interest and antici-
nation created by the approach of the
circus parade. The cry does not
breed terror as it did in the War OF
1912. when Washingtonians first
heard such utterances.
The modern red coats are the
booted and spurred huntsmen of the
Washington Riding and Hunt Club.
Their coats of red. their Coal-olack
hunting caps. breeches of snowy
white. and riding boots of finest calf,
skin add color to the brown-leafed
landscape which is preparing for It's
Winters sleep.
A ducking, dodging. side stepping,
elusive fox is the quarry. Ameri-
can fox hounds. adeptlv trained IN
the arts of the chase. yelp, bay and
speed over hills and dales in pursuit
of the little wild beast. The thunder
of hoofs, the snorts and deep breath
ing of the we'll schooled huntlns
horses as they soar oyer rail- ana
nlank fences. the directing cries of
the master of fox hounds AS he leads
the riders pastoral picture which
nalpitates with exciting Sport-tne
fox hunting season is on once more.
Base ball games are exciting: bas-
ket ball contests make your heaIt
heat faster: foot ball on frozen tuf1
with college bands playing and rlVai
roofing sections launching organized
nandemonium. stirs your blood and
makes your nerves tingle. The royal
and ancient sport of fox hunting in
cites the multiplied enthusiasm OF all
these Younger pastimes and increases
II hundredfold
1T is natural for mankind to revere
l. noble horses and skillful hunting
hounds The blood, indeed. runs cold
IN an American or Englishman VINO
1n
tacle of the modern chase. We do not
have to know the rudiments of fox
hunting etiquette to understand tnat
this is a modern version or the chef-
tshed pastime of ancient kings as 1t
sweeps like racing cloud before our
ewes.
Excellent horsemanship -th rider
who rides as though a component part
of the horse he bestrides - wins ad
n1iration wherever shown. The rapid
reaction to orders of educated dogdom
also stirs added appreciation OF man
most faithful four-footed friend. 1hese
Qualities YOU see at their best on the
fox-huntlng fields and meadows. Inc
element of danger. which is invariably
present. contributes spice to the sport
and entertainment.
Every once in so often a horse fails
to clear an extra high barrlef anu
spills his rider. Green horses may
halk Just abreast of the obstruction.
he il fence. ditch or rock-ribbed wall.
The horse. in such case, stops ao
ruptlv. The horseman, however. con
tinues his Journey. which may termi-
nate in the icV waters of creek.
Broken bones. severe bruises and gen
oral shake-ups which leave the dis
mounted equestrian as dizzy as loon
are frequent Good sports, if able. re
mount their recalCitrant steedS ana
continue the chase. The weaker
hearts hobble back to the clubhouse
70 nurse their aches and bruises by the
lounge log fire.
The venerable "Yoicks" and "Hark
svavs" Of Diana's faVorite amuse-
ment began to resound and re-echo IN
northern Virginia and the Nashlng
TON latitude as soon as the sons and
daughters of Great Britain esta bllShed
their homes. farms and estates IN that
neiehhorhood Foxes abounded dur
Ing the popular months oi the hnnt-
ing season. from October until April.
Neighbors. every time they had the
opportunity gathered for live ION
hunt.
IN to the advent of the automohlle
were found on all the leading coun-
fry plaCeS. Fox hounds were kept by
the C0untrNSide a few at this estate,
several more At that. 1t was never
difficult to gather a pack and TO rouhu
IN enough riders tn feature very
spectacular event. 1t was only hatu'
raj that Virginia should become the
fox-hunting center OF the New Norloo
"a status which the Old Dominion
still occupies.
George Washington was one OF the
outstanding riders and fox hunters OF
his day He maintained stable OF
hunting horses and pack OF hounds
al Mount Vernon. Whenever he could
snare the time from his manlfold du-
ties 10 enjoy fox hunt. he dld so
Mount Vernon. on occasion. was the
scene Of popular hunting breakfasts
and teas. The rolling fields of that es-
tate. bordered by the corkscreWlne
Potomac. formerly felt the impact OF
ey,nr hoofs and the lightning like
leans and jumps of STANDARDIZATION
dogs
From, the era of Washington to the
davs when the late Clarence Moore
was one of the prize patrons OF ION
bunting in the District. the chaSe mas
heen accorded enthusiastic attention
Sy many Of America pre-emlnent
sta,esmen. legislators. canlnet mem
lars and Presidents. Nhen northern
Virginia began 10 migrate to WASH
,rc+on for Fall and Winter amuse-
rnents il introduced and popularized
fnv hunting. The pastime has oeen
nonular from then to now. Present
indications are that il will become
even more popular in the future.
vx1AsHINGToN is situated ideally
w for the enjoyment of all outdoor
sports. and particularly Tor the en'eE
Eminent of those who delight IN
Ioi.;o,eb;n and horseback hunt