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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Signal, 1881-07-29, Page 22 e Ati r f Ey Only Day's Hunting, "Please, sir, are thew for you ?" It was my man who spoke, and as he did ao, he held up for inspection an im- maculate, pair of l "tens" in one hand and a pair of paint new breeches in the other, while his countenance woes an expression of .tingled tear and astopish- pent. With an inward sinking at my heart I tQrned from my morning paper and out- let, and having nodded a gloomy assent to his query, said, "That will do, James; lay them on the sofa" The above conversation took place in my bachelor apartments in the Albany, the reason for the appearance therein of the aforesaid tops and breeches I atm about to explain. I ant not a hunting man. 1 never could see any joke in bumping about on a hard piece of pig- skin in pursuit of a draggled piece of vermin called a fox, although some people say the fox enjoys the fun. It is all very well for those that like it; and Mr. Jorricks of immortal memory, may call hunting "the spurt of things—the image of war without its guilt and only 2b per cent of its danger," if he likes, but I confess 1 can't see it in that light. It is with feelings the reverse of pleasant therefore, that I received and accepted an invitation from Sir Harry Bullfinch to stay a week at his "box" in Warwick- shire, and avail myself of his hospitality and mount with the renowned pack which hunted the county. I was urged to this acceptance of what in my saner moments I should have indignantly treated as a practical joke by a sile attack of the master passion. I mot Sir Harry and his daughter Kate in London, doting the past season. We had fre- quently met at various balls and enter- tainments, and on several occasions had enjoyed the fragrance of Bushy park and the still delights of a boat on the upper searches of the Thames, but with my natural timidity I had never ventured to ask the question which was forever on the tip of my tongue, but never got further. The invitation appear4d to hold out promises of quiet tete-a-tete, so I electrified my tailor and bout -maker with orders for the necessary "togs" with which to cary on the campaign. I remember having somewhere heard or read that in order to acquire an easy and graceful seat on horseback, sitting astride on a chair and holding on by the back, was excellent practice, so, having called James and given him most express instructions to deny me even to my most intimate friends, I proceeded to struggle into perhaps the tightest pair of cords that were ever made for mortal man, and, with the aid of a brandy and soda and a couple of boot hooks, to pull on a pair Of boots which nearly gave me a fit of app'dexy mid made my corns burn for hours. Armed with a cutting whip, I then mounted astride the strongest chair in the apartment, and continued the ex- hilarating exercise with the the firmness of a stoic and a martyr, and with only one interval for luncheon, throughout the entire day. My train left the Great Northern station at 4.30 and landed me safely at my destination. In due course 1 found myself seated next to the fair Kate, with my legs comfortably stretched under Sir Harry's mahogany. "I suppose our dull country pack will seem quite a second rate to you," said Kate. I was murmuring something in reply, when Sir Harry cut in with: "Ah : I've got a splendid mount for you to -morrow, my boy : A trifle play- ful perhaps—hasn't been hunted this season, but will carry you like a bird." "Oh, yes," said Kate, "Czar is such a nice creature.," , "Indeed !" said I. "I am rejoicing to hear it. Of .course you accompany us to the meet ?" "Yee," she replied, "and papa has said that as you are going out I might even follow the hounds a little way. You'll look after me, won't you,. Mr. De - Boot i" I promised to do my devoirs, but in my heart of hearts thought I should re- quire some one to look after me. The following tnorning at breakfast, which was early on account of our having to go some distance to the meet, the horses were brought ronnd—a sturdy, thickset, quiet -looking weight carrier, a neat -looking gray mare, and a bright fidgety chestnut. The latter gave his attendant groom some trouble, and in- sisted on waltzing around on his hind legs a good deal more than appeared to me to be necessary. "1 am afraid your papa will find that animal rather troublesome," I remarked to Kate. "That" she answered, "oh, that's not papa's—that's the one you are going to ride—Car." My appetite left me, and u I rose and walked, in as unconcerned a manner se I could assume, to the window, saw that Carr had reversed the order of things by putting his head between his fore lege amd lashing out with his heels in • very vicious -looking and anything but "play- fwl" manner. A general move was now mnde to the front door. Kate looked at me sad eve• dewily expected me to "put her up" but 1 know better thaw to etieapt it, and THE HURON SIGNAL, FRIDAY JULY 29, 1881. Pretended to be intent on buckling a strap of the pair of spun Sir Harry had lent me until she was safe i• the saddle. Car was then brought op for me to m3unt, which, after *swami abortive attempts, 1 effected, sad we all jogged along together toward the mut. Cos- trary to my expectations Czar, behaved in • most exemplary menu. sad I even ventured to swing my whip with a jasaty air without his taking the slightest notice. But it was too good to last Presently a red oust popped out on us from a by -lane and the Cmr's ears be- gan to twitch. Two or three more horse men overtook us, and his tail began to describe circles, and he proceeded on his way with a crab -like movement, which was anything but elegant and eminently disconcerting. Almost before I could realize the posi- tion, a stern voice shouted, "Now, you sir, mind the hounds will you ?" and a muttered oath, accompanied by an ex- pression which sounded very much like "tailor" drew my attention to the fact that we had arrived in a field by the side of a wood, in which was gathered some seventy or eighty horsemen and a pack of hounds. Luckily for myself, and also for the hounds, on whom Czar seemed to think it fun to prance, the master gave the order to "throw off" It nearly came being prophetic in my case. In less time than it takes to write a fox was started. I lost my hat and my head at one and the same moment, and nearly my seat, and the next thing that I remember with any degree of distinctness is clinging with the blind energy of a drowning man to the pommel of the saddle, regarding with despair • huge fence which seemed to approach me at a terrible rate. There was a sudden rush, a tre.nendous spring—I seem to have left the lower part of my waistcoat and its contest on the other side of the obstacle—and, with a jolt which pitched me somewhere in the vicinity of the Czar's ears, we were over. The field we landed in was a stiffish fallow, but Czar still "urged on his wild career" with unabated speed. I shook back into the saddle, and a passing re- gret that I had neglected to insure my life against accidents flitted through, my mind. I concluded to cling to the pom- mel, and in this manner we negotiated three more fences, and got into a quiet lane, when to my astonisment, Czar stopped dead short We had, to my sincere delight, lust the hounds. I patted Czar gently on the neck, and quickly dismounting, led him slowly down the lane. We had not proceeded far when I discerned a country lad coming towards me carrying in his hand my lost hat, which had been battered out of all shape by a horse's hoof. I re- covered my lost head gear, climbed back into the saddle intending to walk Czar quietly homewards, when I could dis- cover in what direction'. home was. But as ill luck would have it, at that precise moment the sound of a horn was heard far off in the distance. Czar pricked up his ears and gave a sudden start, and on my attempting to check him, had reared straight on end, while I lovingly clasped him round the neck with both arms, and with one plunge forward and upward we left that country and lane forever. We landed in a pasture, and were going at a a fearful pace up a slight incline. Ar- rived at the top, the whole hunt was to be seen coming down the valley. And now Czar would take no denial.' Rushing down the slope, at • speed to which all former exertions of his had been as mere child's play, flew over a double post and rails, and I found myself a good first in front of the foremost flight of horsemen and close on to the hounds. Onward : still onward ! until looming up in the distance appeared a straggling line of stunted willows which, even to my uninitiated vision meant "watbr." Splash ! there goes the fox ! Splash ! splash ! there goes the hounds ! I hear voices shouting behind me as if in warning, but all I can do is to hold on and trust in Providence. Our pace, if possible increases, and, with a sort of idea of going up in a balloon, Czar and myself seemed suspended in the air miles above the brook. It seems, ages before we come down agafn, which we do with a jerk that would have unseated me had it not been for Czar suddenly springing forward and shaking me back to my proper place. We rush on to where the hounds seem to be scrambling for •some- thing and quarrelling amongst them- selves—they have run into the fox and Crar comes to a standstill just outside the worrying pack. Up comes the first whip and flogs them off their prey, rind i we Sir Henry advancing towards me red in the face, and violently gesticulating with his heavy hunting crop. What have I done? Have 1 unconsciously fringed some point in hunting etiquette or have 1 hurt Carl Neither one nor the other. Sir Harry hastily dinging himself off his steaming hone, noses up to me, and seising me by the hand nearly wrings my ata of and bunts out with : "Well done, my boy ! Toe reseal, you ! You've pounded the whole of un. Never saw such going is all my life. Don't believe there's another meta in the field that could have done it. Hen Lord George" --to the noble master who at this rwomeat rod. up— "permit me to introduce my friend Mr. De Soots," "Delighted to make your sequaiat- aw e, sir," says his Lorkabip, shaking me heartily by the hand. I trust to be able to show you some good sport if you see thinking of remaining in ouroountry, though i1 you do we shall all have to look to our laurels. for you wens like s bird, sir." While be was speaking several geedo men rode up, to all of whom I am intro- dowel, ntrodomed, and all of whom praise what they are pleued to .11 my "plucky riding." Mie �q comes up se the last obse- quies are being performed, and on the hunt*ean, obdierit to a nod from his lordship, who is no lover of women in the hunting field, presenting me with the brush, I handed it to her with all the grace compatible with mud stained habiliments, and a crushed and battered hat. We rode home together—Sir Henry and an old crony of his riding some dis- tance in the rear. Car was complacent and had apparently had quite enough at any rate for that day; so thinking that 1 might never have another such oppor- tunity, I gently took Kate's whip and ventured to put that question which had been so long on the tip of my tongue. Her answer was a whisper "ye.;" but suddenly turning to me she added—"On one condition." "Name it dearest, ' I replied. "You are so rash and daring that you must promise me never to hunt after we are married !" Need I say how readily I gave the re- quired pledge, and how faithfully I kept it. rue cress Mantle. I was at an "at home" yesterday, and sew aestheticism in its glory, although it is to be observed that many devoted dis- ciples of the guild, unable to resist the pressure of public ridicule in the papers and on the stage, have gone over to the Philistines. Orcar Wilde was, however, there, and in his glory, for his long hair and sickly -green cravat had an unique coat and • pair of trota<ssn to keep them company. "His trousers are indeed, too too," whispered my neighbor, "for there is material enough in them to make four pair 1" The great Msudle was flop- ping on a divan, his hands folded, his eyes upturned, while a "precious" crea- ture in kindred "art colours" communed with hint. Presently, while a long- haired being played upon the violincello, and ere a young lady had burst forth in- to a rapturous German lied, I noticed in the hallway a decidedly pretty girl who had just arrived. She was trying to take off a Newmarket coat which fitted her so closely that one of the buttons burst u she did so, and this Newmarket coat—oh; "precious!'' incon- gruity of cut and material !—was made of "crushed strawberry" hued cloth. When, with the assistance of- the page and her friends, she had succeeded' in disembarrassing herself of this garment she stood revealed in a 'quite too too" robe of palest green cloth, trimmed with olive velvet, and made in the exact style of that worn by Marguerita in "Faust," down to the chateline pocket and the old silver clasp and girdle. Top this with an unmistakably nineteenth century bonnet, and foot it with boots of our day, and you may well believe that this lovely but misguided girl looked as though she dad just stepped from some such extravaganza as "Le Petit Faust." The hostess did not on this occasion— and does not—encourage this style of attire by personal emulation. Like the Baroness de Chamber in "Frou-Frou," she lets other people make themselves ridiculous. talkie Advantages. An Irishman, finding his cash at a lase ebb, resolved to adopt "the road" as a professional means of refreshing the ex- chequer; and having provided himself with a huge horse -pistol, proceeded forthwith to the conventional •"lonely common," and lay in wait- The no less conventional "farmer returning from market with a bag of money" of course soon appeared, to whom enter Pat with the regulation highwayman offer of choice, "Your money or your life ! ' a remark fortified by the simultaneous ex- hibition of the firaiarm in the usual way. the farmer, who was a Quaker, essayed to temporise. "I would not have thee stain thy soul with sin, friend; and didat thou rob me of my gold, it would be theft; and didat thou kill me, it would be murder. But hold ! A bar- gain is no sin, bet a commerce between two honest mat. I will give thee this hag of gold Lir the pistil which thou holdset et my ear." The unsuspecting amsseur 11I.cbestle, yielding perhaps to the Quakers logit and solicitede for his spiritual welfare, made the exelgasge without a mo set's hesitation "Now, friend,' cried the wily Ephraim, leveling the weapon, "give ase beck my gold, or Ill blow thy brain• out "' "Skase away dila, darling !" said Pat "Sure, there's Diver • amp of powther in it :" The rush was a mold Quaker. ter. Doris( this mouth ewmmer cnmpl iats eomi.we they meant To be fen - wanted is to be forearmed. Dr. Fowler's Sundt of Wild $iawberry is the best kuewe mrenwfat v. and cure for all o forms of towel eossplaiwa and askant iwnid.a1 1e the sen— mer moue. t"se lleasaw aweless helots.. "You remember that fellow who wrote, whata it's name 1 You know, he made some mousy on one of the western rail- roads; I forget what they call it." "Well, what of him 1" "Why, not long ago be was in, blot's that town in Wiseman 1 You "Don't naiad the name of the town ; what did he do 1" "What the dame is the same of that town 1 A b politii tian Dame hum there You know Well, this fellow—" what f r' "I can't think of his name. It's a good joke and I nearly died when I beard tt. He'd come from that big plan- tation in Louisiana kept by—by : Who's that big beaker in St. Louis? The man who built a line of steamboat& from Keo- kuk to—to—I'11 think of the name in a minute—the town at the mouth of—you know that river in Arkansas. Anyway he'd come up on the—that road that runs at the west bank of the Mississippi from that place oppositeCairo. Consoli- dated with the Cairo and Fulton road. What't the name of that linel" "Don't know. Never in that osentry. What did your man do that was so very funny 1" "Why, he'd come up from that plat- form on this line to the town in Wiscon- sin, and struck for the—the—that hotel on the comer of Jefferson and that other street. Named after • Frenchman. Strange I can't remember it. Don't you know the house 1" "Never heard of it. Don't know any- thing about it Go on with your story." t` W ell, he got there, and he perpetrat- ed the beet pun you ever heard on the landlord's name. The landlord got off a pretty good thing on this man's name, but I can't remember what it was. Any how, this man asked the landlord : "Why are you like an insurance company"—he named the company, but I've forgetten what it was. 'Why are you like this in- surance.cnmpany r Give it up;" "Yes, I give it up." "Well, sir, the answer is the funniest thing you ever heard. It broke me all up when I heard it 7" "What is it r' "Why, if I could remember the name of the landlord, I'd know in a moment. Who's that fellow that invented the — pshaw ! that machine for making—what are they called 1 You understand, some- thing about stair rods." "Never heard of him." "It's the same name except the last syllable. ,funny I didn't catch it." "Is that all of your story 7" • "Why, yes. You see if I could re- member my man's name and the insur- ance company and the landlord's name, Fd bust you right open with the best thing you ever listened to. By the way, we had a large party at our house last night, and the queerest thing is that I didn't know I'd forgotten to invite you until my wife asked why you waen't there. Good one on you, wasn't it ! I said to—,that fellow I loaned twenty- five dollars to on your guarantee, what's his name, fat fellow/ 1?Tover paid it,and I wish you would let me have the money." "Don't remember the name ; don't re- collect the circumstance,and didn't know you had a wife. I'd heard you had a party, but didn't remember the number of your house. I would have forgotten to come if you had invited me," and the bored man departed in dudgeon. A vast proportion of society is made a vacuum to memory, and some of the shining social lights of this place will compare pleasantly in converu.tiopatl ability With the genius here portrayed. Free .r Marge. All persons suffering from ;Coughs, Colds, Asthma, Branchitis,Ioas of Voice, or any affection of the Throatand Lungs, are requested to call at your drug store and get a Trial Bottle of Dr. King's New Discovery for Consumption, free of charge, which will convince them of its wonderful merits and show what a reg.• lar dollar -size botte will do. Call early. —[Adv. A eg.sa. The summer season now reaches its climax, and is prolific in developing bowel complaints. Over -indulgence in fruit, immoderate drinking of iced waters and summer beverages, in a few hours produce fatal ravages among children and adults. Dr. Fowlers Extract :of Wild Strawberry is the most reliable re- medy for all forms of summer com- plaints. Safe, pleasant and prompt in it. effects. All dealers keep it. Da Uma be seeelvet. In these times of quack medicine ad- vertisement' everywhere, it is tally gratifying to find one remedy that is worthy of praise, and which rally doe as nocmamnded. Electric Bitters we can vouch for se being a true and relia- ble remedy, and one that will do se re- commended. They invariabl cure stomach and Liver Ormipiainte, Dis*as.s of the Kidneys and urinary difficulties W. know whereof we speak, and can readily ay, give them • trial. Sold at fifty cents a bottle, by all druggists. — [Adv. :teew,e Mabee se libilibea. Nature's own remedy for bowel t aa - plaints, eboksra marble&J _ch�olic, cramps, vomiting, ase sickness, elwolere infantara disrr#area, dysentery, and all disuses of e like nature belcwaging to the summer seasera, is Dr. Fowler's Extract of Wild Strawberry, which era be obtained of a1 dollen le median* AFTEE FIZZ. JOHN RTORY T . Tiaamlth Is call to the treat. 1 lieWe pleasure to stets that &melte the iacavea.saee 1 wee Des 1► V the runt 1n law p emise that 1 1 to tall le WAS• unwed to give & STOVES, TINWARE, LAMP GOODS sad every caber line in the business, busines, aI young also num W thaahs Ftre Brigade and • of Ooerich Mr the sae - coastal sabots L ssviaamy propert!my e mme,a the late fire. John Story. i:— PRI NTS •T COLBORNE BROTHERS 11.0 5 CENTS A YARD UP. THE BEST VALUE IN TOWN. £AIIPJIJEIS' EWYABIETY STORE. NGOODS 5,000 ROLLS WALL PAPER y'FRESH STOCK.'iai,llr.NEW STYLE/3.11k WINDOW SHADES, TRAVELING BAGS, BASKETS, BABY CARRIAGES. A FINE STOCK, STYLISH AND CHEAP Note the Stand. "The Cheapest House Under the Sun:" alNext door to the Post mice. If You Want Good GROCERIES, PROVISIONS, CROCKERY, or GLASSWARE, —00 TO— D. FERGUSON'S Hamilton Street, Opposite Bailey's Hotel. In addition to the ordinary lines of the Oroxry and Crockery Trade. I Garry a to 'tock of Floor, Ios, Pork anBllOf P1'OflSiOilS MY MOTTO IS. "Fair Dealing and Moderate Prices." • CeeigOil alsoold. see my Stock and get my prices. /i'10oods delivered to any part of the D. Ferguson. Daniel Gordon, Cabi�cl—Ma�cr 11111 Urger. Oldest Hoax is the comity, and Largest Stork this side of London! Paaaoa SLITYA, Bao -Roo, Srnzs, Sang -BOARDS, EASY CHAIRS, A Lotntoits,ritc., arc. Cash Buyers will And It to their advantage to see my stock if they need a good arttele at close price. D. GORDOV, West Street, near Post Office, Goderidl. g2NTg2L Carriage Works! 3E3_ POINT=R having leased the shop of Mr. P. Bayne, is engaged in the manef &eters o first clan CARRIAGES, BU&&IBS, WAGGONS, etc, Give me a call, and I will give you prion that cannot be owes in th Bounty. R1;PAIRINO. aiSL JOBBIIsTC DONS] KINTAIL CARRIAGE WORKS, B. POINTER GET YOUR AUCTION SALE BILLS PRINTED at the oldie of THE HURON BIGNAL, Korth Sams, dodarisk .'Ass's. .. iluSwre of 'be Netraad as Whether the faoiliiias u Canal for passing ooe seb really exist is stn Every boy intrusted with horse k ws that he will off if h is kept too tont a bargain. Every resew torsed ship -owner knows turns set seldom exp« vessel hailias massy tons ca are miles in her voyage. thumb law" applies to oot well, very few of this cr. !antic service now being lee than 2500 tom mew the chain of the great would require vessels of Chicago to Montreal, a 1406 tons from Duluth thew figures reprse.ntua of either route in miles. Welland passes vessels of which thus eat their owe: before they reach Montre ins of crossing the Atlanl alternative left to the Cal meant, therefore, was to ear land and Bt. Lawrence a to admit vessel. of 1500 capacity. But while I d ill in prows of s ship -builders have cone d the sire of their vena lakes above Buffalo a ous raft that axe both too deep to enter the it is strained to its utmos the vessels, the mon pr, come, and oonsequentll hull* that carry the grain the Erie Oanal are in de more, while the exra e breaking of bulk at th than offset by the thoro the grain and the diininis "beat. " Just at this point we a recent discussion in the in regard to the practi gating the ocean and the same bottoms The nm cusaion is that the most a men declare ocean and • be two distinct things—i the Canadian Governm shared as to practically t present, the attempt laden vessels seaward, r radical reduction in tolls petition with the canals If transhipment par i lo, transhipment ought St. Lawrence route. 11 being advanced to th completion ae the Wel theirboate from the larg *ton. Having never. y. one-tenth of their fall a not be enlarged till tl worked out its own fir mercial raison &etre. Previous to the rete Canadian tolls the pmol most immediate effect Weiland would 1 , to bu of Lake Ontario at the upon Lake Erie—a ver of bringing the Erie lev of Ontario, and not (in level of Montreal. Wh thus refused to stop at stop at Lake Ontario, t. fit of Charlotte, ()sew and Ogdensburg. Fr transfer might be read American sea -board, a of American vessels pas Welland to these ports well as in the past. AI the situation as it was 1 dian Orden in Council the sctgal damage to Lake Erie, Buffalo in blematical, for the imp St. Mary's River and Flats make the surface tidily the surface of ei in the chain. A the Ontario ports was the the Erie ports had to 1 rates ria Ontario meat rupees,. That cheaper rate h and yet there is not s,1 the Canadians threats' canals were built to m g•ncy as now stares el and they have moa spite of their boasts o and the fatalities cur they are constantly de dom of the canals in t se was shown by the t the Hoa George BM' are ever amending tI oeoidance with the Tr* whereas they should 1 ed States government the Skate of New Tor terways free to fore with • new Welland mule to Ontario, still break balk, witl dues confronting the pilot feeadownthe Gt of the littltheenavif anyigatoradvantaga Owes let thisrnete be throughout the Empi endtneuranoerates M letetill further rd net e s did the abolition told in • reduction half trate • inn. or