WHAT MIGHT BE AND WHAT IS 265 



certain general conclusions which I believe to be 

 true. 



It may be pointed out that, fallen rents notwith- 

 standing, as many country houses are kept up as there 

 ever were. This is so, and I will add that perhaps 

 more money is spent in them than before, especially 

 where they are let to rich tenants. But if the owner 

 lives in them himself, I repeat that in most cases he is 

 supported, not by the land, but from outside sources, 

 such as town property. Or perhaps he exists upon 

 the shooting-rents. 1 For many reasons this is a state 

 of affairs which cannot be called healthy or even right. 



Some readers may ask how in these circumstances 

 it comes about that properties are still purchased, even 

 in East Anglia. A study of the auctioneer's adver- 

 tisements will help to furnish an answer. On what 

 do those advertisements most insist ? Not on the net 

 return obtainable on the upset price, not on the agri- 

 cultural capacities, but on the sporting and social 

 advantages of the property offered. Also often on the 

 luxury and accommodation of the mansion, which is 

 generally stated "to be suitable to a nobleman or 

 gentleman of wealth." 



Many people labour under the impression that most 

 of the great estates are rapidly disintegrating beneath 

 the pressure of the bad times, or from other causes. 

 Now and again they see in every newspaper statements 

 to the effect that such and such a peer or large land- 

 owner has been driven by Mr. Lloyd George's budget 

 to sell his land. If looked into it will be found, how- 



1 " . . . especially when we think of all the estates hereabouts {i.e. 

 in Norfolk) which apart from the shooting have little or no value at 

 all" From an editorial note, Eastern Daily Press, February 20, 191 1. 

 The italics are added. H. R. H. 



