30 HUNTING 



difierent classes of the people with a bond of social 

 union, and which adds firmness to the national char- 

 acter, must commend itself to any intelligent man who 

 believes that the vitality of a nation lies in its outdoor 

 life, and not within doors. We ourselves are convinced 

 that a country village is more symbolical of national 

 life than a manufacturing town ; but whether our 

 convictions are right or wrong, England can never 

 become one large manufacturing town, or, in other 

 words, the workshop of the world. The lungs of 

 England are situated in the country and not in the 

 town, and hunting, as we trust that we have shown, 

 instils the breath of life into those lungs. Therefore, 

 the result of hunting is healthy both for our national 

 economy and our national life. 



The demand for horses has been a sensational subject 

 for very many years, but at no period has it exceeded 

 that of the present, when the demand is so great 

 that we have to go to Canada, South Africa, and 

 Australia for our supply. Apprehensive of disappoint- 

 ments, our agriculturists at home have in many 

 instances abstained from breeding, and consequently 

 have not paid attention to the numerous observances 

 necessary to promote success. Hunting, or rather 

 hunting-men, have to a large extent come to the rescue, 

 and reserved the national industry by providing 

 breeders with limited incomes with sires ; but we 

 should like to see the extent largely increased, for there 

 is no doubt that the subscriptions of many hunting 

 men are entirely disproportionate to the sport which 

 they enjoy. 



How to force the hunting man to contribute his fair 

 quota towards the sport which he enjoys is a question 

 which becomes more important every season owing to 



