57 



the better plan is to wait for the calming influence of a 

 good dinner and write a short note stating the facts, 

 when he will in all probabiUty receive an apology, good 

 feeUng will be restored between the two and an unpleas- 

 ant incident will be forgotten. If, however, the individ- 

 ual is a hardened offender, and though guiltless on the 

 occasion, has many previous sins on his conscience, he 

 had better say nothing, for it is Ukely enough the ruUng 

 authority is dealing out condemnation for those lapses 

 from good behaviour in the past. 



A hunt of any size without a master would be a 

 disorderly mob, and it is for the benefit of all that there 

 should be someone with supreme authority in control. 

 His position and power are given him by the members of 

 his hunt so that it can be seen that it is only by their 

 loyal support he is able to wield his sceptre. The master 

 is, for the time being, a sovereign, and whilst he wears 

 the crown of office he must have the unquestioned 

 loyalty of his subject. However, many faults he has 

 and however much he may mismanage the affairs of the 

 hunt, he should still retain the respect and co-operation 

 of its members. By them he was elected to the post 

 and on them he depends for their cordial support. 



In the perfect master there are as many quaUties 

 required as in an efficient Prime Minister. Tact, courtesy 

 and good-humour are of great assistance to the M.F.H., 

 but perhaps the most important is an iron control over 

 temper. Everyone with anything in him may be said 

 to have temper, but " good tempered " and bad- 

 tempered " are misnomers, the one has control over it, 

 and the other has not. In the course of a day's hunt 

 there are many occasions when the thoughtless acts of 

 individuals are enough to try the patience and temper of 

 a saint, but the master will never gain anything by 



