CANFIELD HART 



T33 



his huntsman, Bailey, and his aides-de-camp Cockayne and Champion, and 

 last but not least, our field-master, Mr. C. E. Green, are to be congratulated 

 on such a successful commencement. Someone else must relate particulars 

 of this eventful day, where they went, how they went, how they fell, and 

 how they felt after falling. I am alluding now, of course, to the mighty 

 Nimrods and graceful Dianas who never miss the opening meet. I can 

 only venture to take liberties with a few names of the fifty odd who 

 mustered on the following Wednesday at the " Axe and Compasses," near 

 High Roothing Street, on a day by no means inviting from a sporting point 

 of view — a rising wdnd and a falling glass, with every appearance of a wet 

 jacket before night. 



Canfield Hart 



High Roothing, Springs, and Canfield Thrift for once belied their 

 reputation, but their near neighbour, Canfield Hart, held at least a 

 leash, some said two brace, to make amends for the previous draw. Two 

 stole away while hounds were busy with a third, who made but an ignoble 

 struggle for his life ; about two turns up and down the Hart, a short circle 

 in the open, back to the Cottage near the Wood, finished him and lunched 

 the hounds. By the bye, w^hich do hounds prefer, to race into their 

 fox in twenty-five minutes or cook him in one hour and fifty? Do you 

 know Wilson's Springs ? If not, let me tell you that it is not three 

 miles from Takeley Forest, nor is it three miles from Canfield Hart, 

 neither was it drawn blank this Wednesday. Breaking on the opposite 

 side to the Forest, our fox crossed the road and led us a merry dance up 

 wind, and circling round reached the Springs again, and disappeared. 

 That fifteen minutes was very nice, very fast, and allowed very little time 

 for looking at fences, though plenty for plumbing their depths. 



Let me warn strangers that Mr. Balls's chesnut horse is as dangerous 

 to follow as the celebrated Doctor of Melton renown — how after going three 

 or four fields he swept over a blind yawner and how Mr. Arkwright, 



