THE PIEDMONT 



the Grafton Hounds, who had done a good deal of hunting with Mr. 

 Dulany in Virginia, was elected Master, a position which he held for 

 only five months, when the title again reverted to the Dulany family. It 

 was during this period that the English-American foxhound match was 

 held, and at that time the Piedmont country was hunted by the Grafton 

 Hounds. In the following season, Mr. Dulany, not caring to continue the 

 active Mastership, owdng to his father's death, Mr. John R. Townsend, 

 M. F. H. of the Orange County, who at that time was hunting the Middle- 

 burg country, as well as his own at the Plains, Va., applied for the privilege 

 of hunting the country jointly with Mr. Dulany and, his application being 

 granted, he did so during the seasons of 1 906 and 1 907. At the present 

 time the Piedmont hounds are at " Grafton Hall," and it is to be hoped, 

 at any rate, that Mr. Dulany wdll now continue to keep hounds himself again, 

 and that the title of M. F. H. will never for long leave the Dulany family. 



The country, as has been said, is one of the best in the United States, 

 differing very little from that of the Loudoun County Hunt, which it ad- 

 joins, except that stone walls replace the post-and-rails in many places. Of 

 course, in a country in which there are so many rocky cliffs as there are 

 along the borders of Goose Creek, which runs through the country, all 

 earth-stopping is labor in vain, and were it not for the sportsmanlike nature 

 of the foxes, there would be many short runs ; but for some inexplicable 

 reason, the foxes in northern Virginia decline to go to ground until they have 

 led hounds a long chase; oftentimes drawing it so fine that they are unable 

 to save their brushes. Many of the farmers join in the sport, while the 

 hospitality of Virginians is well-known and visiting sportsmen can always be 

 sure of a warm welcome and a good mount the next day. 



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