THEIR PHILOSOPHY OF THE CHASE. 73 



he probably would try to make. Amongst other things 

 connected with the stable for which he entertained a prefer- 

 ence was the use of the dandy-brush to a horse's legs rather 

 than washing them down, which, even though covered by 

 four white "Stockings," he considered an " idle trick," from 

 which cracked heels might result. He would stand by 

 whilst his horse was shod and see that it was done as he 

 directed, rather than as the farrier recommended ! Would 

 never give a horse chaff, especially the bought variety ; but 

 on coming in, a bit of good hay to prevent catching cold, 

 with a little liquid strained off the linseed ; and later the 

 feed of corn with linseed, and a few old beans in place of 

 chaff, to prevent bolting. 



One of his axioms was, that in cold weather, a good 

 quick grooming and extra rug were as good as an additional 

 feed of corn. Although he never bought a horse without 

 looking in its mouth, curiously enough he once bought a 

 mule without doing so, to find later on that its tongue was 

 almost severed ! 



Mr. Costobadie was of a very genial temperament, and 

 shared with his old friend " the Bishop " of Skeffington, the 

 reputation of being one of the best judges of wine in the 

 county. By his long residence in a great wine-producing 

 country, his palate — which, being a non-smoker, was very 

 acute — had become accustomed to and appreciated the 

 pure juice of the grape — the good Rhine wine — and although 

 a lover of port, he was of opinion that the English taste had 

 been ruined by excessive fortification until people could 

 hardly discriminate between a good natural vintage and 

 anything else labelled Oporto. Of the many good stories he 

 could tell of his Cambridge and other days, the writer can 

 remember the following, which he thinks should be worth 

 recording : — 



Of a rather insignificant and not over popular "Don," 



