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is at what leisured people would call an unearthly 

 hour, he will probably never get a moment all day 

 except for time to chew a crust of bread. Small wonder 

 that drink should have been the ruin of many huntsmen's 

 reputation. Spirits on an empty stomach are, as every 

 one knows, bad for the health, but it is difficult to digest 

 a meal in the saddle that has been hurriedly bolted, 

 and it is therefore not surprising men should crave for 

 a glass of whiskey on their way home. The one glass 

 might not do much harm, but I fear in time it often 

 leads to many more. 



Although done with the best intentions and with the 

 idea of being hospitable, it is really no kindness to offer 

 hunt servants strong drink on their way home. A 

 cup of tea with a shce of bread and butter would keep 

 them going until they could sit down to their evening 

 meal and leave no bad results. 



In my humble opinion there has never been a hunts- 

 man to equal Tom Firr and future generations will be 

 lucky if they discover one as good. Fate dealt kindly 

 with me in giving me the privilege of hunting with and 

 watching this great exponent of the science. Although 

 he was an ideal man for a grass country in the marvellous 

 manner he could get hounds out of covert and away 

 on the back of their fox, you would see him towards the 

 end of a run let them patiently puzzle out the hne. In 

 addition to his many fine quahties he was endowed with 

 a voice that would thrill the most phlegmatic of men, 

 and his cheer had an electric effect on the pack. The 

 Quorn hounds had a great reputation, but I feel sure 

 he would have quickly converted any pack of modest 

 pretentions to equal excellence. 



" Blood " is very necessary after a run and hounds 

 that have not killed for some time will soon lose the 



