The other day we got a newsletter, the closest thing that we really have to a global Hash news update and I discovered that a Hasher of some prominence or fame I guess, wrote a book about how the Hash House Harriers came to be a global sensation.
I reckon it won't be much longer before someone can write a book about how the global collapse of the organization also happened, since interest in the group is dwindling all around the globe, which is a shame.
The book is only $5 in ebook form so I picked it up. I don't mean to be rude towards "Hazukashii" the author, but it is pretty evident really early on in this book that this was self-published and written by someone that isn't really an author.
That being said, all the information in the book about the origin of the Hash and how it gained in fame first among British soldiers and then spread around the world is pretty accurate and also quite interesting.
If you are the kind of person that is interested in this sort of thing you can pick up a copy at Amazon in hard, paperback, or ebook at that link.
There is also a excerpt and brief overlay of the book that can be viewed for free HERE
This is the same guy that publishes the newsletter that is read by dozens of dedicated Hashers every time that he bothers to make some information.
I have to admire this man's dedication because it can prove to be quite difficult to figure out what is going on in the world of Hashing since each chapter or "kennel" operates completely independently and doesn't exactly advertise to the world what they are up to. Often, I will go and look at a Hash that I participated in at some point in the past and go to look for them only to discover that they have disbanded due to lack of Hares being willing to make new trails, which is also a shame.
I fear that the Hash House Harriers will die out in my lifetime because from the few Hashes that I talk to around the world they all say the same thing: That their population is aging and not being replenished with young people. I blame the internet and just outright laziness. When some kids do come to our events they are normally kind of being forced to by their parents who are members and they spend the entire time moping around and complaining that they aren't able to use their phones or tablets for a few hours. Shame, but I guess that is the way things are now.
It's nice that someone took the time to record this all though because even though I feel the end will come for the group in my lifetime, it did carry on for over 100 years and that is pretty special when you consider that it was never very organized and just traveled around the world organically. There has never been any money in this. Our local Hash has an accounts of sorts but we regularly spend more than we take in and the balance has to be made up by our dedicated local members, including myself.
I enjoyed the book, and I think that most other Hashers will as well. I don't have any sort of sales figures for the book, but I would be willing to bet that the figures were not very high and just like most things that Hash does, the expense associated with publishing it was made up by the local members and likely, the author himself.
On On! anyway though!
we still do at least 3 runs per week here in Chiang Mai and all are welcome to join us in Thailand. No membership is necessary. Check out the full details at our website
