202 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY 



Point at Aldershot, also the Staff College Point to Point, 

 repeating the latter performance in 1894, when he became the 

 property of his present owner, who, in four Point to Point races 

 in Essex heavy-weight class, placed him each time, viz., third in 

 the Essex Welter and Royal Artillery races in 1895, ^^^^^ ^ 

 very good second after cutting out most of the work in the 

 Welter of 1896 ; finally winning a well deserved victory 

 when the going- was desperately heavy at Hatfield Heath in 

 1897. 



They tell me that the spectators who were not a-horseback could see 

 little of the races. Carriages were not allowed to enter a single field on 

 account of the state of the ground, and those who arrived on bicycles, as 

 did three adventurous spirits, were simply soaked to the skin : as the 

 General's son shook his coat you could hear the water squabbing about 

 inside ; and with a nine-mile ride to the station, no change, and a journey 

 to town, 'tis surprising that we have not heard of an inquest. But low 

 shoes and coloured stockings — green, yellow, or blue ! Oh ! ye gods ! 

 fancy facing the mud in such a costume. You saw it from your carriage, 

 my lady, I think. Indeed, the mud was up to their knees, and tell me 

 that they were not bicyclists ! There were some chic costumes, dear Madge, 

 in the morning. There were some draggled-looking habiliments ere sun 

 had set, and in rain and mud, and mud and rain, the Point-to-Point of 1897 

 at Hatfield Heath had become a matter of history. 



The Annual Meeting, March 2oth, 1897. 



Would have been there on wheels if the doctor would have allowed it, 

 and the Accidental Assurance Railway Passengers — good office — (couldn't 

 be otherwise, since our " Hon. Secretary" is one of the Directors) con- 

 tinued their weekly payments. But my heart was there, and my best 

 wishes for the fulfilment of the universal desire throughout the Hunt that 

 the connecting links which each year bind Mr. Bowlby and Mr. Arkwright 

 closer and closer to all sections of the hunting community should not be 

 severed. All came right ; all as we wished it, and, while other hunts are 

 at their wits' end to find a Master (for who will undertake the task in the 

 present day, even if they carry the horn, for their own pleasure ?), we are 

 fortunate enough to have to record no change in masters or staff. This 

 alone will make the annual meeting of 1897 the most important event of the 

 season. In many years we have been accustomed to a great day's sport to 

 further emphasise the yearly gathering of the Clans. Everything seemed 

 propitious for it on Saturday when the huge cavalcade moved off from the 

 Kennels. ('Twould have been a grand chance for a Jubilee gift to the 

 R.A.B.A.) 



A good scenting day, the ground moist enough in all conscience, a good 

 country before them, and any number of foxes about, and yet throughout 

 the day luck was against all but a fortunate few who, come what may, 

 rarely if ever go home before the hounds. For the sunny day had doubtless 

 tempted foxes into the open, and Mark Hall, Barnsley's, Latton, Harlow 

 Park, Parndon Woods, Nasing Coppice, and Deer Park— regular foxland 

 — up to Galley Hills were all drawn blank, and not before they reached 

 the last-named covert did they find a fox, and he without any bouquet de 

 Reynard. Weary and tired, horses and riders, all the huge field, had 



