2 70 CENTURY OF ENGLISH FOX-HUNTING 



should be devoutly thankful, for it would be im- 

 possible for the hunt servants to enter young 

 hounds to fox if they were hampered by a crowd 

 of horsemen who do not understand the science of 

 cub-hunting. Thus it has only been during the last 

 few years that the cub-hunting fixtures have been 

 advertised. Personally I think that the old practice 

 was preferable, namely to give the huntsman a 

 number of addressed post cards, and to ask him to 

 forward date and hour of meeting, if the fixture was 

 within reasonable riding distance of one's residence. 

 He could then use his own discretion as to whom 

 he should give information. The objection to the 

 system was that subscribers who did not receive 

 the information considered themselves personally 

 aggrieved. Hence the present practice, which in- 

 volves an entire change of principle. Thus when a 

 card was sent out there was a tacit understanding 

 that the men who went out cubbing went at the 

 personal invitation of the Master, and that they were 

 therefore bound to conform to all the rules and 

 regulations of cub-hunting, and refrain from captious 

 criticism. But once advertise the cubbing fixtures, 

 and the world at large is invited to take part in a 

 business of which few men understand even the 

 rudiments. It is like admitting the public behind 

 the scenes of a theatre, or like a conjurer show- 

 ing his audience "how it is done." But there is a 

 further point, involving different sporting considera- 

 tions, which has to be dealt with. 



