The Merry Past 



There were many original characters amongst the 

 sporting men of other days. 



A certain huntsman was celebrated for his novel 

 method of getting hounds out of covert when they 

 were not disposed to obey the summons of the horn. 

 His plan was to get hold of one of the hounds on 

 the outside of the covert and to pull his ears so as to 

 make him cry out, thereby inducing those which 

 remained in covert to suppose that he was running 

 a fox, when, by cheering and hallooing to the cry, he 

 succeeded in getting them all away. 



One of the best-known hunt servants of the past 

 was Tom Snooks, who was whipper-in to many 

 masters of hounds — Mr. Simmonds (when he had 

 hounds in Berkshire), Lord Kintore, Lord Moreton, 

 Lord Radnor, John Warde (when he hunted the New 

 Forest), and afterwards to Mr. Villebois. Tom was 

 a first-rate rider to hounds, having a quick eye and 

 light hand, and could beat most men ; and may with 

 truth be said to have lived all his life with hounds. 

 He afforded considerable amusement to the field one 

 day after the death of the deer, which he had jumped 

 into the water to secure, and come out thoroughly 

 drenched ; he asked some of the field how he was to 

 get the water out of his boots. " Take them off, to 

 be sure," said some. " Oh ! I know a trick worth 

 two of that," said Tom : upon this he stood upon 

 his head by the hedge side, and thus got rid of 

 the water, much to the amusement of the spec- 

 tators. 



A similar anecdote used to be told of the celebrated 



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