The Merry Past 



president, perceiving his error, politely expressed his 

 sorrow that an idea should have gone about that he 

 there or elsewhere could possibly dream of anything 

 like dictation, which he would show by immediately 

 ordering a magnum of claret. 



Many excellent songs were sung after this Gargan- 

 tuan meal. 



The general dress and equipment of a squire of 

 the old-fashioned type was of an original description, 

 more adapted for use than ornament. 



His boots, which were only worn upon very special 

 occasions, being reserved for full dress, generally 

 served him for some twenty years ; when they were 

 well greased with neat's-foot oil they would defy 

 a week's rain, came up to the point of the knee-pan, 

 and were well secured by a strap round the thigh, 

 and the spurs just large enough in the necks for the 

 rowels to turn. 



Many of the old squires never rode their hacks 

 to cover, their practice being to be at the rabbit- 

 warren, or other place where the fox was expected 

 to feed, by break of day, and to trail up to the cover, 

 so that it was frequently necessary to be on horseback 

 by four in the morning ; and, from the hounds 

 being much slower than those of the present day, it 

 was frequently starlight when they reached home. 



Hunting in old days was not the expensive affair 

 which it is at present. Of late it has in a great 

 measure become the relaxation of the rich townsman, 

 rather than the natural pastime of the squire of 

 moderate means. 



42 



