AND THEIR CAUSES 75 



they will probably do the business better and more 

 speedily than if a larger number were present. Still, 

 when it comes to a question of the disbursement 

 of money, there is often hesitation on the part of 

 the two or three who are gathered together, and 

 the meeting is adjourned. 



With an efficient Hunt secretary, however — and how 

 much most Hunts owe to their secretaries ! — and a 

 good working committee, it should be possible so to 

 arrange matters in a hunting country that the M.F.H. 

 need have little to do in the off season except the 

 regulation of his Hunt establishment. Why, after all, 

 should more be expected of him ? Why should it be 

 said M.F.H. 's work is really beginning when our sport 

 is ended ? He will have plenty to occupy his mind in 

 seeing after his stables, and his servants, and the 

 breeding of his pack, but need not necessarily be ex- 

 pected to stay at home like a nut in its shell all the 

 summer. 



Not very many years ago I heard objection gravely 

 taken to the name of a candidate for the mastership 

 of a country because he was a polo player, and so 

 would be " gadding about all the summer instead of 

 looking after his country " ! No wonder that master- 

 ships are short, if such ideas prevail ! The fact is that 

 the modern M.F.H. cannot do it all " off his own 

 bat," as is so often expected of him. He should be 

 thoroughly supported by all interested in fox-hunting 

 in his country, who should endeavour to make his 

 task an easy one. He may have to work hard at first, 

 but the work should be the work of organisation, for 

 a leader is always wanted ; but after the first year or 



