1 88 LETTERS TO YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 



V. 



TO GUESTS. 



SHOOTING is, at its best, so essentially a part of our 

 well ordered British country house existence that failure 

 to conform to the recognised code of behaviour, not 

 only in the field, but " out of hours," as it were, will, 

 if wantonly repeated, militate considerably against your 

 social success. There are sundry little matters anent 

 which a little care and forethought will save you 

 immediate trouble and future heart-burnings. Most of these 

 can be settled by the simple and direct process of enquiry ; 

 for instance, you are asked to a couple of days' covert- 

 shooting at a house to which you are a stranger and where 

 you are naturally anxious to avoid doing anything which 

 may make you look foolish and prejudice your footing. 

 You are afraid of taking too many cartridges, or too few ; 

 the former error will inconvenience nobody except the man 

 who carts them from the station ; shortage leads to borrow- 

 ing and its attendant train of evils. One of your fellow-guests 

 may have some to spare. Do not reward him by grumbling 

 elsewhere that his powder gives you a headache or does not 

 give as good results as your own ; such complaints are sure 

 to reach him sooner or later. You are more likely to borrow 

 from the butler, who has probably borrowed (in the Israelite 

 v. Egyptian fashion) from a succession of unlocked maga- 

 zines or open boxes, and, in any case, you will scarcely be in a 

 position to haggle about price or change. But there can be no 

 harm in asking your host what you are likely to want. Ditto 

 as to loader ; ask either your host or a fellow-guest who 

 knows the ropes. (Houses wherein a party of eight or ten 

 guests, plus wives and daughters and ladies' maids, valet, 



