2 CONVERSATIONAL HINTS 



the barrister must note, for use at the dinner-table, 

 the subtle jests of his colleagues, the perplexity of 

 stumbling witnesses, and the soul-stirring jokes of 

 judges; the clergyman must babble of Sunday 

 schools and choir practices. Similarly, a shooter 

 must be able to speak of his sport and its varied 

 incidents. To be merely a good shot is nothing. 

 Many dull men can be that. The great thing, 

 surely, is to be both a good shot and a cheerful, 

 light-hearted companion, with a fund of anecdotes 

 and a rich store of allusions appropriate to every 

 phase of shooting. I venture to hope that the hints 

 I have here put together may be of value to all who 

 propose to go out and 'kill something ' with a gun. 



THE GUN 



No subject offers a greater variety of conversation 

 than this. But, of course, the occasion counts for 

 a good deal. It would be foolish to discharge it 

 (metaphorically speaking) at the head of the first 

 comer. You must watch for your opportunity. 

 For instance, guns ought not to be talked about 

 directly after breakfast, before a shot has been 

 fired. Better wait till after the shooting-lunch, 

 when a fresh start is being made, say for the high 



