160 AMERICAN FOX-HUNTING 



boyhood, has outgrown the dare-devil, and lost somewhat 

 of the muscle and elasticity of his youth, but who still, by 

 his fine sense of the capacity of his horse, his light hands, 

 and perfect judgment, is able to keep in the next field 

 with the hounds throughout a long run over a stiff coun- 

 try. As there is perhaps no animal equal to the best 

 hunter in his all-round qualities, unless it be an Al Ken- 

 tucky combined horse, so there is perhaps no more perfect 

 thing in equitation than this intelligent riding. It soars 

 above the breakneck performance as a line of Milton 

 above the epic of Commencement. We do not often see 

 this kind of thing here ; the dare-devil still predominates : 

 but none the less, hail to the youth and strength and man- 

 liness which have sought an outlet in this splendid sport! 

 A generation ago the same spirit thronged the tented 

 field, and marched up to the Bloody Angle with teeth set 

 and heart aglow with heroic passion. And it is this true 

 Anglo-Saxon mettle which can always be relied on to 

 come to the fore in our times of need. May it never die 

 out! 



In a few sections of country fox-hunting is older; in 

 fact, has become not only almost an hereditary sport, but 

 one in which the farmers take an equal part and interest. 

 This is as it should be. Hunting can never thrive when 

 only the rich may indulge in it. When a country is so stiif 

 that none but exceptional horses can get over it, and a 

 field is limited to a dozen men on nags averaging a couple 

 of thousand dollars each, it is hard to see a future in the 

 sport. Were it not for some localities where the sport 

 has run through a generation or two, even though there 

 has been no regular Hunt and M. F. H., one would fear 

 its extinction when fashion shall have brought some other 

 form of athletics into prominence. But it is probable that 

 hunting has taken firm root ; and though our climate can- 



