188 MEMORIES OF THE SHIRES 



described to be his ideal for hunting. Without 

 pomp or blare of trumpets, as he had lived, so he 

 passed to the grave. Hunting men are not a class 

 who give much outward expression to their feelings, 

 but as the earth rattled down on the cofhn-lid and 

 we turned away they were few who did not feel some 

 emotion and whisper, ' God rest his soul.' " 



Season 1903-1904 



Rain fell heavily in September and October, with 

 the result that there was some good sport during cub- 

 hunting. All three packs had some nice little gal- 

 lops, but the Quorn run from Queniborough Spinney 

 to Asfordby was perhaps the best. 



I notice in my Field letter that the Quorn com- 

 mittee decided to start " capping " again, and dis- 

 cussing the question of hunt finances, I ventured to 

 remind readers that subscriptions were due on the 

 1st of November. People have rather got into the 

 habit of looking on a hunt subscription as a donation, 

 which it does not matter when they pay and is 

 usually left to the last. 



There was nothing of a sensational nature up 

 to Christmas, but a general average of good sport, 

 hounds being able to run every day. Perhaps the 

 best scenting day fell to the Quorn on 21st Decem- 

 ber, when they had three good gallops. The last 

 one was from Ella's Gorse to Melton, a seven-mile 

 point, and most of it being fast. Hounds had to be 

 stopped owing to the failing light, and the fox there- 

 fore escaped. This run only wanted a kill at the 

 finish to have given it a prominent position in the 

 annals of the hunt. 



