The Life of a Great Sportsman 



"Hold hard!" 



With the large number of people who comprise the big 

 fields of horsemen who come out in the fashionable part of 

 Leicestershire it would be odd if amongst them there was 

 absent a certain amount of friendly rivalry. Should, however, 

 a Master ride bang in front of the field when hounds are 

 running, and, holding up his hand as he turns round in the 

 saddle, cry " Hold hard ! " it is a bold man who would dare to 

 pass him. If, on the other hand,he is two hundred yards or so 

 behind, but little attention is paid to his shouts by the leading 

 division, their idea being that, jealous of their position, he is 

 merely " trying it on," with a view to getting on level terms 

 with them. 



Youth at the Helm. 



Making every allowance for the temerity of youth, and with 

 a strong fellow-feeling for keenness, if I might be allowed to 

 make a suggestion, it would be that before a young man com- 

 mences to hunt in Leicestershire, he would do well to disport 

 himself for a season or two in a more provincial county, under 

 a 'good huntsman, with the object of learning some of the 

 rudiments of fox-hunting and riding to hounds. " Experientia 

 docet" as they taught us at Harrow, and I feel sure that a 

 candidate for honours over the broad pastures and big fences 

 of High Leicestershire, fresh from a "tour in the provinces," 

 such as I have ventured to prescribe, will be the first to admit 

 its efficacy when he faces the music in earnest. 



The Hunting Parson. 



Human nature is human nature all the world over, so why, 

 therefore, should it be considered ififra dig. — nay, in many 



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