146 HUNTING 



hurry over his dinner toilet, and few things more 

 enjoyable than the luxury of dressing leisurely, and 

 having his bath at the temperature which he likes. 

 The hot air box, sometimes called a portable Turkish 

 bath, is now found to be a great boon to hunting 

 men. It only costs between £3 and £4, can be 

 heated in half-an-hour by an oil lamp, and takes up 

 very little room. 



Hunt breakfasts given at the meet have now 

 gone out of fashion in most hunting countries, and 

 hospitality at the meet is generally limited to dry 

 sherry, liqueurs, and biscuits. Where the custom is 

 kept up, the object is that members of the hunt may 

 have an opportunity of extending their hospitality to 

 the farmers. 



The novice should be careful always to carry plenty 

 of small change, for the requirements for small change 

 in the hunting-field are innumerable. "Paid Is. for 

 catching my horse" is a constant entry in the fox- 

 hunter's diary, and it is well to be prepared even for 

 unwelcome casualties. 



Probably almost as many men object to riding the 

 horses of their friends as there are men who object 

 to lending their horses. We have often heard bold 

 riders declare that they feel nervous when riding 

 another man's horse. We do not allude to that small 

 section of first-rate riders whom owners are only too 

 anxious to get to ride their horses, so as to make 

 them into good hunters. Every hunt possesses at 

 least two, if not more, of such men, who may be 

 termed " gentlemen rough riders." They will make a 



