FOX-HUNTING 403 



subscribed was sufficient to defray the working 

 expenses, the result being that the Masters them- 

 selves were compelled to meet the deficiency as 

 best they could ; in other words, to pay the money 

 out of their own pockets. Thus, it is evident that, 

 if the position of a Master of Hounds was not 

 all couleur de rose in former days, it is still less so 

 at the present time. 



Apart from any such expenditure as a Master 

 of Hounds may generously be disposed to incur 

 for the benefit of his neighbours, the actual labour 

 which devolves upon him in his endeavours to 

 show sport is very considerable ; and this is 

 more especially the case if he does not employ 

 the services of a professional huntsman, since 

 it is necessary for him, in order that he may 

 know his hounds and that they may know him, 

 to be constantly with them, out of season as 

 well as in season. The responsibility is also 

 heavy, for it behoves him not only to maintain 

 the necessary establishment in as high a state 

 of efficiency as the resources at his command will 

 permit, but he must also contrive, by the exercise 

 of tact and cordiality, to maintain friendly relations 

 with all of those with whom he has to deal land- 

 owners, farmers, labourers, keepers, etc., alike, 

 any one of whom has it in his power to afford 

 him grievous annoyance and trouble if he is so 

 disposed. When all these things are taken into 

 account, it is not so much to be wondered at that 

 a difficulty in procuring Masters for the numerous 



