BREAKING AND HANDLING. 285 



encyclopedia; and let your actions and discourse be consist- 

 ent therewith. Hold tenaciously to your opinions. There 

 are many sportsmen whose cuticle and epidermis are so 

 thick, tough and flinty, having such copious layers upon 

 layers and folds upon folds, that no rules bearing on 

 the subject can be made of sufficient acuteness to be know- 

 able to their consciousness. So entirely are they in the 

 murky clouds of their own selfishness that they do not dis- 

 cern the loss of respect or the contempt, the character of 

 hoggishness which they justly suffer in the estimation of 

 hunting companions, and as for perceiving their own low 

 grade of sportsmanship themselves, it is not to be hoped for, 

 for it is very difficult to correct nature by art. 



When you are the guest of a friend, give your dog the 

 freedom of his parlor. Tell him how much you love your 

 dog, and let your manner be slightly austere ; this will be 

 sufficient reason for turning his home into a kennel. 



After completing your visit and therefore having enjoyed 

 the hospitalities and shooting afforded by your host, tell 

 your friends and acquaintances that his dogs are worthless ; 

 that your own dogs completely and uniformly defeated them; 

 that you beat your host shooting day in and day out, and 

 that he is an overrated sportsman in every respect. Your 

 host may have refrained from shooting, or may have given 

 you all the shooting because you were a guest ; nevertheless, 

 imply that the whole visit was a hot competition from start 

 to finish. Your host, being solicitous for your comfort and 

 pleasure, never dreamed of such ; but amiably construe his 

 forbearance and courtesy to inability. You might, as an 

 exhibition of tact and observational powers, criticise 

 adversely every failing you could perceive in his dogs. You 

 might even do this for the edification of your host personally. 

 It would be a very gentlemanly return for his hospitality 

 and care. 



