108 



that riding across Leicestershire was the right thing to 

 do. The majority of them had never learnt the first 

 rudiments of hunting, had no knowledge of hounds, and 

 were only concerned in beating other competitors over 

 the fences. It was this spirit of competition that caused 

 the unpleasant episode in Mr. Osbaldeston's mastership 

 of the Quorn mentioned above. 



Hunting is really strenuous work, and those who 

 follow it must be prepared often to endure considerable 

 hardship, so that a real and abiding love of the sport 

 is necessary to keep a man faithful. 



In Mr. Osbaldeston's time there were doubtless many 

 thorough sportsmen in different parts of England who 

 would have been horrified at seeing a field set off to ride 

 after a fox mthout waiting for hounds, and we must not, 

 therefore, imagine it was a common offence of those 

 days. I do, however, beUeve that latterly hunting 

 knowledge has become more general ; also there are 

 more people who appreciate and take an interest in the 

 work of hounds. I think we may take it that whereas 

 in the eighteenth and early part of the nineteenth cen- 

 tury, hunting knowledge was confined solely to dwellers 

 in the country, it has nowadays spread over a much 

 wider sphere and achieved popularity with all classes. 



Much of this is due to the hunting Uterature of the 

 past, and Surtees' immortal Handley Cross is probably 

 responsible for awaking the divine spark of the chase 

 in the hearts of many who would otherwise have gone 

 to their graves ignorant of life's greatest joy. Jorrocks' 

 references and quotations from Beckford must have 

 made numerous readers dig up that ancient classic. 

 Thoughts on Hunting, perusal of which could not fail to 

 light a fire of enthusiasm in those with any hunting 

 instincts. 



