ON HUNTING. 7 



Thursday Mr. Fernie's are convenient. On Friday you may 

 turn again to the Quorn, and back to the Cottesmore on 

 Saturday. This was what could be done before the war, 

 and perhaps very much the same can be done now. In the 

 provinces take York for example, and there are many centres 

 as good. On Monday and Tuesday you can hunt with the 

 York and Ainsty, on Wednesday with Lord Middleton's, 

 on Thursday York and Ainsty again, on Friday the Bramham 

 Moor are always quite near, and on Saturday you have Lord 

 Middleton's or the York and Ainsty to choose from. I 

 would advise you to hunt when you can, not pick your days. 

 You may select a good meet and have bad sport, and have a 

 good gallop from an unfashionable fixture. 



I wonder if a few words could be ventured on that much 

 thought of but rather delicate subject, the habiliments of the 

 chase. Nearly all the best men to hounds I ever knew were 

 rather dressy out hunting. Any old things do for shooting, but 

 there is a sort of pageantry of the hunting field which it is well, 

 for many reasons, to uphold. You are never wrong with a 

 black or dark grey frock coat or one of somewhat morning 

 coat cut — I mean rounded at the corners — cord breeches, 

 and plain black top boots. Never wear coloured or polished 

 tops on your boots unless you wear white breeches and a 

 silk hat. Of course, leathers and pink are much too serious 

 a subject to discuss now. A silk hat is always right with 

 black coat and cord breeches. It is the best headgear at 

 all times, except in the cubbing season, when it is never worn 

 and anything of the rat-catching order does very well. 

 The foreigner is bewildered at the silk hat in the hunting 

 field, but no more practical head covering could be found. 

 The protection given by a hard tall hat is very great. After 

 a blow on the head from a low branch when jumping a fence 

 the hat may be a bit concertinaed, but the concussion has 

 been taken by it and not by you. Many a man's neck has 

 been kept intact by his silk hat when he has fallen plump on 

 the top of his head. But a silk hat must fit, as, indeed, 

 must all hunting garments. A boot also should fit, 

 but be big enough round the calf and in the foot. I defy 

 the greatest thruster to thrust in a boot half an inch too 

 small round the calf. Pride may force him to get it on, 



