XXYIII 



When we reach the cross-country rider of our Eastern 

 States, as typified in such hunts as the Genesee Valley, 

 the Meadow Brook, the Radnor, or the Myopia, we touch 

 our hats with a thrill of admiration as the red-coats ride 

 to the meet, and wonder at the genuine Yankee grit and 

 intelligence which have so soon popularized this sport 

 among us. Not that we can have the real article in 

 hunting in our severe northern climate, or under condi- 

 tions which substitute a drag for Reynard's nimble legs 

 and cunning twists and turns. Still, it is rare that a fox in 

 our Eastern States will give you as good a run as a drag. 

 The country is such that you cannot ride over it in ever}'- 

 direction at will, as you can in England, and a fox has so 

 many covers near at hand that you can never be sure of 

 even a short run. This does not apply to the Genesee 

 Valley. Fox-hunting there is the rule, and a drag is laid 

 only to accommodate those who ride to jump fences in- 

 stead of jumping fences because they are hunting across 

 a country and won't be left behind. But the boldness, 

 skill, and enthusiasm of our hunting -men are beyond 

 praise, and there is plucky riding and good among them. 

 It is, moreover, certain that in no part of the Old Country 

 is there such breakneck timber as we find in several of 

 our hunts — say the Meadow Brook. 



I have often thought that as fine an exhibit of horse- 

 manship as can be found is that of the middle-aged Eng- 

 lish country -gentleman, who has ridden to hounds since 



