342 CHANGES IN FOX-HUNTING 



studied with some attention by those who hunt with 

 the hounds they are intended to support. It will 

 generally be found that very large subscriptions are 

 given by men who hunt very little, or not at all ; but 

 who, because they are landed proprietors, consider it 

 their duty to support the county pack of hounds. The 

 prospects of the landed gentry cannot be said to look 

 very bright just now, and one is forced to consider 

 if these subscriptions are likely to be maintained in 

 the future — nay, to ask oneself if by any right we 

 should expect them to be continued. If a landed 

 proprietor is able to let any house or farm as a 

 hunting-box, or to offer as an inducement to a tenant 

 that there is " good hunting in the neighbourhood," 

 then, indeed, it may reasonably be expected of him 

 to subscribe pretty liberally to the hounds ; but, as 

 the writer of 1834 remarked, " the fact is, most men 

 want to hunt for nothing," and when future subscrip- 

 tion lists are read over and a small sum appears after 

 the name of a county magnate, he may be voted a 

 shabby fellow though he and his ancestors have been 

 paying for the sport of others for several generations. 



It is only just beginning to come home to some 

 folks, who would be indignant if a neighbour offered 

 to pay the rent of their shooting or fishing in Scotland 

 for them, that they have practically been allowing 

 other people to pay the greater share of the cost of 

 an amusement which lasts them for five months in 

 the year. 



The matter is now dealt with in many English 

 countries in a very business-like manner. Take, for 

 instance, the Grafton — one of the historic countries 



