The Lower Forest 



CHAPTER III. 



Major Tail — West Essex Polo Club — Qui Vive — Kitty — Meets not Advertised — 

 St. George — Dtike and Diicliess of Albany at Eastoii Lod^e — Xiiias Eve, 

 1883 — Chasseur — Beau Walnish) — Harlequin — Kingston— Bob Chapman — 

 Abigail — E. A. Ball — Dynamite and Waterford — Eost in the Fog — 

 Chance — The Lord Mayor has a Day—F. Green — Blue Beard — Grafton — 

 Cub Hunting in 1SS4 — Hounds Staked — Mr. R. Parkes Breaks his Arm — 

 Bo') Ball — Boycott — The Abridge Policeman — Thornwood Gate — Tlie Run 

 of the Season — A Broken Back — A Regular Trap. 



I MAKE no apology for introducing here a short bio- 

 graphical notice of the " clear old INIajor," as he is called 

 in Essex, It was written in anticipation of the inclusion with 

 these hunting notes of a short account of the History of the 

 West Essex Polo Club, with which the Major's name was so 

 closely associated. 



Taking over the duties of Hon. Sec. to the West Essex 

 Polo Club in 1880, when he settled at Theydon Place, Epping, 

 he ever afterwards, until the break-up of the Club in 1898, took 

 an active interest in its management, and set an example 

 in polo enthusiasm which the rising generation may do well to 

 emulate. In spite of the great impetus given to polo in West 

 Essex by the advent of Mr. S. Chisenhale Marsh as a playing 

 member, in 1882, when he placed his splendid ground at 

 Gaynes Park at the disposal of the Club free of charge, it may 

 safely be asserted that on more than one occasion the West 

 P^ssex Polo Club would have died of inanition long before 

 '98 had it not been for the Major's unflagging zeal ; a zeal 

 that was so thoroughly appreciated by his fellow members that 



