FOX HUNTING. 83 



animals, whose points as good runners and jumpers 

 were fully discussed by the several knots of hunt- 

 ing men and critics who thronged the well-filled 

 stable, comparing notes between the Rose Tree 

 Club and their guests. 'Have you seen the 

 kennel and the fox?' inquires the proprietor. 

 'Well, come along, and I'll show you some 

 beauties. There isn't many of them, only two 

 and a half dozen, as the English would say, for 

 they can't say twenty-five to save 'em.' Their 

 kennel w-as a moderate-sized barn, and as the door 

 was shoved along to permit a view, there was a 

 rush of many feet, and such a concert of yells as 

 the master struck at them and forced them back, 

 so eager were they for the field. Their eagerness 

 illustrates the force of the hunter's answer to the 

 sentimental old lady who was taking him to task 

 for indulging in the cruel amusement of fox 

 hunting. He listened patiently, and then said : 

 'Ah ! madam, ye canna deny that the hunters 

 like it, I'm sure the horses like it, and I'm 

 certain the dogs enjoy it, and there's no one 

 knows that the fox don't Hke it.' There were 

 twenty-five of these hounds, nearly all of them 

 thoroughbreds, and some valued at $35 to $50 

 each. The fox was then inspected. He was kept 

 in a box, the top of which had slats nailed on it to 

 prevent his escape. He was caught in German- 



