214 The Hunting Field With Horse and Hound 



The writer not having had the personal experience, begs to 

 include a letter describing such a day's sport, which he received 

 from his son, who at the time was taking a post-graduate 

 course at Oxford and who, while there, hunted quite regularly 

 with the New College-Magdalene "Cry." 



New College, 

 Oxford, England. 

 November, 1905. 

 My Dear Father: 



You will certainly wish to know how we hunt 

 the hare at Oxford. I can explain by telling of a glorious run 

 to beagles we had this afternoon in the rolling country beyond 

 Cumnor Place. These November days have a fascination in 

 them that drives every undergraduate afield — some fellows 

 in rowing togs to the Isis, others to "footer" and "rugger," 

 some few to hunting and various field sports, and still others 

 to beagling. A run in the open, over turf or through "plough", 

 over ditches or through hedge, on foot after beagles, although 

 not to be compared to a day's fox hunting in the dear old 

 Genesee Valley, gives the body new life and the mind real joy. 



New College and JVIagdalene keep a pack of beagles 

 between them, which hunt the hare hereabouts on Wednesdays 

 and Saturdays throughout each term, while the Master himself 

 hunts the pack during the long "vac." at his home. The beagles 

 are kennelled just outside the City and are looked after by a 

 kennelman under the personal supervision of the Master. 



This was my first day at beagling. The nearest I have come 

 to hunting since I came to Oxford is to take a few cracks out 

 of my hunting crop, occasionally, just before turning in. 

 This in hopes I may go on with the illusion in my dreams. So 

 far, I have cracked and coaxed in vain. 



If I had a little more floor space and a bridle and a horn, 

 I would doubtless rig up a dummy horse and display a few 



