96 FOX-HUNTING 



are fully alive to the privilege they enjoy and do 

 all in their power to avoid friction. 



I have heard it said that the farmer ought to 

 encourage hunting because of the money that it 

 brings into the country. The money thus spent 

 may eventually help the sale of some product 

 that the farmer grows ; but it is only one in 

 twenty who feels the direct benefit, and the other 

 nineteen may very likely see their farms more 

 ridden over than the lucky one. You cannot 

 expect a farmer or any other man to appreciate 

 a benefit unless it comes direct, and it is easy to 

 understand his irritation when his fences or crops 

 are damaged. What advantage is it to Giles, 

 who has a grass-farm across which hounds run 

 every week, if his neighbour sells his oats to a 

 hunting-man? Also, how can you expect the 

 farmers to feel thankful because Mr. Croesus the 

 millionaire spends two hundred a week amongst 

 the local shopkeepers, and as much more in wages ? 

 Of course, every one benefits indirectly, and the 

 farmer amongst others ; but still the fact remains, 

 that he sees the actual loss by damage and does 

 not see the gain to himself. The question is really 

 more national than local, and were hunting to be 



