44 A PLEA FOR INTEREST IN HOUNDS 



though I most strongly deprecate the use of violent 

 or unseemly language in the hunting field, it appears 

 to me that the modern M.F.H. is the most highly 

 tried of human beings, and if ladies come out in 

 the great numbers that prevail at present, and 

 display the amount of ignorance that makes them 

 so harmful to sport, they can hardly wonder if they 

 hear words spoken that were best left unsaid. 



" As a rule, too," remarks a correspondent, " they 

 contribute very little towards the finances of the 

 hunt in which they do so much mischief " ; if this 

 reflection cross the mind of the highly tried M.F.H., 

 it is not calculated to check the flow of his observa- 

 tions. Professional huntsmen complain very bitterly 

 nowadays of the difficulties that are put in their way 

 by ignorant riders ; but it is very detrimental to them 

 to acquire a character for incivility, or a reputation 

 for bad temper, so they have to bottle up their wrath 

 and dare not " blow off steam " like the amateur, who, 

 if he is not blessed with the possession of a power of 

 sarcasm, is reduced to profanity. 



The feelings of the professional when the field cause 

 annoyance and do mischief, was so amusingly set forth 

 in Warburton's verses that I think I may be permitted 

 to quote some lines from his Cheshire " Huntsman's 

 Lament " : — 



" Over-ridden ! Over-ridden ! 



All along of that 'ere check 

 When the ditch that gemman slid in ; 



Don't I wish he'd broke his neck. 

 I, to hunt my hounds am able, 



If they only play me fair. 



