THE MASTERS. 6g 



J. W. Macne was horn isl Deconiber, iS4_i, ami in his hoyhood resided 

 at Ashfield HaH, in Wiiiah Here lie yot his llist introduction to sport in 

 the shape of ratling with Skye terriers, varied wiili a Hiile pigeon-sliooling. 

 Having learned to ride even before he could walk, MacCie had plenty of 

 fox-hunting during his visits to Scotland, where his uncle, Mr. William 

 Mactle, was well known witli several of the Scotcli packs— the Duke of 

 Buccleuch's, the Linlithgow and Stirlingshire, and the Lothian. \'oung 

 ^Licfie made friends with the huntsman of the Lothian (Atkinson), and 

 frequonlly went wiih him to the kennels to look o\-er the hounds. Another 

 uncle, Mr. John ^L^cfie, who was one of the early members of the R.R.15., 

 often brought him out with the beagles ; this must have been duiing the 

 time when Jones was huntsman, Macfie being a boy under ten years of age. 

 He must have known the R.R.T). for a longer period than, ai-.yone new 

 connected with them, and remembers many of the ancient celebrities, 

 having a special recollection of being "slanged" by Alfred Walford for over- 

 keenness. 



After his marriage in 1867, Macfie resided at New Ferr)-, and in 1870 

 he joined the R.R.B. as a member, when he was dubbed by the master (Old 

 King), in friendly jest, a " pestilent Liberal and Psalm-singing Presbyterian." 

 Many of us remember INLacfie before he became troubled with rheumatism, 

 and when he was one of the best runners with the hounds. He was always 

 a good beagler, and dearly loved the glorious sport. He was well read in all 

 the literature of hunting, and took great delight in watching the working of 

 hounds. 



In 1882, as described on a previous page, ALacfie was elected deputy- 

 master along with L. R. Stevenson. He undertook the kennel management, 

 and made it a labour of love. The following extract from one of his letters 

 will testify to his work : — 



When buying hounds, I found great difficulty in getting beagles of hound 

 type. Each master had a dift'ercnt idea of what a beagle should be, some had 

 hounds with heads and ears like fox-terriers, others like pups, and some like 

 miniature fox-hounds. So, when I was asked to support a harrier and beagle 

 show at Peterborough, I cordially entered into the idea, and have given my 

 support and a cup there every year. From that show has sprung the Associa- 

 tion of Masters of Harriers and Beagles, and the foundation of a Stud Book for 

 harrier and beagle hounds. I hope, in time, this may result in a type as clearly 

 defined for beagles as the foxhound show, supported in its infancy by 

 Anstruther Thompson, has fixed for the fox-hound. 



In 1S89, when Stevenson resigned the mastership, Macfie was unani- 

 mously elected Master, but this post he only retained for one season, as he 

 had left his house at New Ferry, and gone to reside at Rowton Hall, near 

 Chester. It was with great regret that he gave up the hounds, and now he 

 solaces himself by breeding hackneys, having nearly as many foals as he 



