The Washington times., 1933-02-28
FOX HUNT CODE
Of CONDUCT
VIOLATED
By HARRY COSTELLO

Conflicting PHILOSOPHERS often
mar sport as we'll as the activi-
ties of everyday life.
Down in the hunt country OF
Virginia conflicting PHILOSOPHERS
Of sport bid fair to bring on a
feud. 1t is unfortunate, too, par
ticularly in view of the fact that
a whole group may suffer for the
actions of few.
Personal conduct has brought,
in more than one instance, sharp
action by officials of various
hunts and hunt race meetings.
Adding fuel to Smoulderlng
fire, which threatens to break
into flame at any moment, is the
fact that some Of the true sports
men and true sportswomen OF
the hunt country advocate a
policy designed to educate offend
ers, one in particular, a woman,
while some others of the true
Sportsmen and sportSWomen in
sist that one cannot make a silk
purse of a Sow'S ear, or words to
that effect.
Guests Welcome
AS all followers of sport prob
ably know, guests are ever well
come at hunts and hunt race
meetings. Some untoward act or
word is the only ground for with
drawing that welcome.
Recently, one of the guests at
a hunt undertook in the presence
of ladies and gentlemen Of the
hunt severely to criticize a groom.
Providing the groom deserved
criticism, no one could object
validly. However, in this particu-
lar instance, the guest involved
used language not acceptable to
the master (M F. H., who re-
Trained from indicating his dis
pleasure at the moment but sub
Sequently notified the guest, in
writing, that the questionable
pleasure of her presence would
best be appreciated by her re-
manning away from future events
of the particular hunt. of which
he was master.
The offender is the wife of a
man of wealth, recently come to
the Virginia hunt country, prob
ably with the thought in mind of
enjoying the advantages of the
country and incidentally of aiding
the country itself in it's desires to
continue as a noted center of
thoroughbreds. The country has
long been noted for it's true sports
men and true sportswomen.
Reflects Conditions
The threatened feud Gn man
ner of speaking) only reflects con-
ditions throughout the field of
American sports. Artificial people
In any sport are never understand
ing, and they are ever unapprecia-
tive of the idea that sports may
be aids in the development of
desirable ethical characteristics of
true Sportsmanship, or character.
This particular condition in the
hunt country of Virginia will only
be eliminated by thoughtful con-
Slderatlon of ways and means to
bring an erring one over the fence
to the side of right thinking and
fair play.
Many times in sport persons
who appear artificial and who
are artificial temporarily, may be
brought around to the right
standards by patient and ju-
dicious treatment. They are dia-
monds in the rough, albeit at
times, it seems, too rough.
Nevertheless, it is always we'll, as
the Irish fox hunter reminded, to
treat them as angels lest angels
they be in disguise"
LOgis the Same
One hesitates to counsel older
and wiser people in the field of
fox hunting. but logic is the
same in sport. or in religion, or
In everyday life.
Who can tell but that the
erring one, for the moment un-
duly impressed by the wealth,
social position and prestige of her
husband, will finally awaken to
the fact that unpopularity in a
hunt country can only come when
one is not sporting and when one
fails to realize that ethics are
important in sport?
While there is life there is
hope, even in the matter of
bringing headstrong woman to
a realization that true sports
manShip demands many sacrifices
and conditions before it will be-
come constant companion to any
man or woman.