38 The Hunting Field With Horse and Hound 



Williams, "is a young man and ardent fox hunter. He was 

 the only man not on the State ticket to be elected. He can- 

 vased the entire State, stopping only with fox hunters in 

 each county and hunting with them. He carried liis election 

 by the largest majority ever given to a candidate for the office 

 in the State." 



While living at Asheville, North Carolina, in 1887-8, the 

 writer made the acquaintance of several southern sportsmen 

 of the old school. 



"Come down and see us," said one (whom we will call CoL 

 Thorpe). "We will give you a genuine North Carolina 

 welcome, a taste of our best corn whiskey, and a day's fox 

 hunting that will put you on good terms with all mankind, — 

 especially the brethren" 



Through some misunderstanding, the writer arrived by 

 a train ahead of the one on which he was expected, and of 

 course there was no one at the station to meet him. While 

 inquiring the way, from a gentleman at the station, a negro 

 went galloping past in grand style, and at a speed calculated 

 to turn the blackest nigger boy in the place green with envy. 



"Heah, you nigger! You yellow nigger on the boss! you 

 come heah! !" shouted the gentleman. 



Finally after repeated motions and hallooing, the rider 

 and his beautiful thoroughbred mount came sidhng up to the 

 curbstone. The grin on the boy's face, as he urged his hes- 

 itating mount to within ordinary speaking distance, was so 

 great and full of satisfaction, that but for his ears to check 

 it, it would have opened the top of liis head like a syrup pitcher. 



"Look heah," said the stranger, "Is that Col. Thorpe's 

 boss?" 



"I reckons hit is, boss." 



"What you doing riding him like that for?" 



"I jes' done exercise him a little." 



"Exercise him!" roared the stranger, "You're sure enough 



