CHAPTER XIX 

 THE FOXHOUND 



THE Foxhound may fairly claim to be the means of circulating more 

 money than all the other members of the canine race put together. 

 It has been estimated that there are now about 160 packs hunting 

 the country at a cost of well, anything the reader likes to fancy, 

 per annum. Calculations more or less wild have been made by 

 various writers, and sums named differing to the extent of from 

 one and a half millions to four millions of pounds, a little variance 

 which causes the cautious man to hesitate before accepting any one 

 of them as being even approximately accurate. 



How difficult it is to form a reliable estimate is shown by 

 the difference of opinion existing at the very outset. " Stonehenge " 

 in 1865 considered it should cost ^845 per annum to maintain 

 a three-day pack in a state of efficiency a very low estimate, we 

 should consider it ; but other authorities place it as high as .3,000. 

 The fact is that where so much depends upon the taste and fancy 

 of the Master or the reputation and character of the Hunt, no 

 general estimate can be made. That hounds can be hunted 

 cheaply, efficiently, and in a sportsmanlike manner is well known 

 to many an old hand who loves hunting for hunting's sake ; but 

 the Master must be here, there, and everywhere, with a personal 

 knowledge of every detail, and a whole-hearted love for the business 

 which takes him to the kennels at all hours and at all seasons 

 of the year. If he lives miles away, visits the kennels " sometimes," 

 but during the season meets the hounds at the appointed place 

 in spotless attire, and leaves for home when a reasonable opportunity 

 occurs, if he tires of the " honour " after a couple of seasons and 

 makes room for another gentleman with money, or the inexperience 

 plus the ambition of youth, then the bills mount up and the 

 highest estimate may be often exceeded. 



We live in an expensive age everything has to be done in an 

 expensive style ; and as in Society we see people with small incomes 

 making desperate and painful attempts to copy their rich neighbours, 

 so we can see small, poor, and unfashionable Hunts making desperate 



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