A PLEA FOR INTEREST IN HOUNDS 39 



tion is required to bring them out in the state that 

 will enable them to hunt in the style admired by 

 Beckford and appreciated by all true sportsmen. 



There is much more to the same effect in Sir 

 Reginald Graham's book, perusal of which would do 

 far more than anything that I am able to indite 

 in the way of creating an interest in hounds. The 

 subject is one of vital importance to sport, for it 

 is only when people begin to take a real interest in 

 hounds and their work that they know what to do 

 in the hunting-field. 



Much good ink has been spilled, much good paper 

 stained by many writers in the endeavour to secure 

 fair play for hounds. Apparently it has all been 

 in vain. Several Masters of Hounds, indeed, declare 

 that this season " things are worse than ever," and 

 one writes that "it really seems as if some people 

 came out with us determined to do all they can to 

 spoil our sport ; yet they tell me this is not so, and 

 that they only do it through ignorance. Through 

 ignorance ! When they are given eyes to see and 

 to read with, and ears to hear — how can they be so 

 ignorant?" I wonder what is the price of a booklet 

 with which I have been presented, entitled Rudi- 

 rnentary Rules Religiously Regarded by Riders ivith 

 Foxhounds and Reasons Respecting Them, by H. N. ? 



If the price be not prohibitive, I would recommend 

 every M.F.H. to procure some copies and send one 

 to each of the worst offenders in his Hunt — or, perhaps, 

 the funds of the Hunt would stand the cost. These 

 rules, however, though very amusing, are, as Artemus 

 Ward expressed it, " rote sarkastic," and possibly have 



