TALES OF THE TURF AND THE CHASE. 



But it is not so with wild shooting. Not so with the man, 

 who, with the greatest difficulty, and after studying every avail- 

 able means of approach, has got within range of the lordly stag, 

 and hears the dull thud which tells him his bullet has not missed 

 its mark. Nor with him, who, after a hurried breakfast, climbs 

 hill after hill in pursuit of the russet grouse, or mounts to the top 

 of a cragged ridge in search of the snowy ptarmigan. Not so 

 either with him, who traverses every damp bit of marshy ground 

 along a low bottom, and is thoroughly gratified, if, at the end of 

 a long day, he has bagged a few snipe, nor with him, who, despite 

 cold and gloom and wet, has at last drawn his punt within dis- 

 tance of a flock of wild duck. In each of these, endurance and 

 energ)' is taught in its fullest degree. It is no slight strain on 

 the muscles and lungs to follow Ronald in his varied course, in 

 which he emulates alternately the movements of the hare, the 

 crab, and the snake ; and it is no slight trial of patience to find, 

 after all \-our care, all }-our wearisome stalk, that some unob- 

 served hind, or unlucky grouse, has frightened your prey, and 

 rendered your toil vain. But, en avant, do not despair, try again, 

 walk your long walk — era -.l your difficult crawl once more, and 

 then — your perseverance rewarded by a royal head ; agree that 

 deer-stalking is calculated to develop a character which over- 

 comes all difficulties, and goes on in spite of many failures. 



The same obstinate determination which is found in this, the 

 beau ideal of all shooting, is found similarly in shooting of other 

 kinds ; and it is a question whether to the endurance inculcated 

 by this pursuit ma}- not be attributed that part of an English- 

 man's character which made the Peninsular heroes ' never know 

 when they were licked.' 



Cricket is another field sport, the popularity of which is 

 rapidly increasing ; partly from the entire harmlessness which 

 characterises it, and leads to the encouragement of it by school- 

 masters and clergymen, and partly from the fact that it is 

 played in the open air, in fine weather, and in the society of a 

 number of companions. I do not propose to inquire whether 

 there is benefit in the general spreading of cricket through the 

 country, or whether it may not be said that it occupies too much 

 time and takes members away from other more advantageous 

 occupations, or whether the combination of amateur and pro- 

 fessional skill which is found in great matches is a good thing ; 

 but I wish, briefly, to point out one or two points in human 

 character which seem to me to be developed by cricket. 



