338 CENTURY OF ENGLISH FOX-HUNTING 



members who are incapable of appreciating healthy 

 amusement. These members may be divided into 

 two classes, namely, those who practise cruelty and 

 those who profess Puritanism. The English-speaking 

 races have abandoned the practice of cruelty. Dog- 

 fighting, cock-fighting, and bull-baiting have been 

 condemned on account of their cruelty to animals 

 and their tendency to foster unhealthy excitement. 



But it must be admitted that reformation in regard 

 to sport is constantly necessary, and therefore we 

 must consider to what extent it is the duty of 

 the Legislature to ensure reformation. In the first 

 place we must remember that, with the exception 

 of the Royal Buck Hounds, sport is not subsidised 

 by the State, but, on the contrary, pays a large 

 subsidy to the State. In the second place, most 

 branches of sport possess governing bodies fully 

 competent to deal with the majority of disputed 

 questions. In the third place, English people have 

 a rooted objection to be dictated to by a legislative 

 assembly in regard to their amusements. It is 

 the boast of English sportsmen that in this country 

 sport is independent of the support of the State, 

 though the sanction of the State is necessary for 

 the maintenance of the game laws, of close seasons, 

 of fishing rights, and of protection against poaching 

 and against cruelty to animals. In other words, 

 we require the strong arm of the law to protect 

 us against the malpractices of enemies to sport. 

 This axiom is capable of wide interpretation. 



