Fox-htinting in the Twentieth Century 



riders to hunt and enjoy it, and be fairly efficient 

 M.F.H.'s and perhaps huntsmen. In some cases 

 masters who do not jump are to be found 

 in a flying county ; they sometimes increase their 

 pack's speed. The sportsmen above alluded to, 

 although in the minority among hunting-men, in- 

 clude many whose knowledge of hounds and the 

 sport is of the highest. There are four classes of 

 hunting men, roughly. Those who hunt to ride. 

 Those who ride to hunt, and ride hard, see the best 

 of the sport, are the cream of the field and the most 

 permanent members of the community. Then 

 there are those who love hunting, cannot stay 

 away but hardly ever see a run through — they 

 may jump, but do not gallop. In the evening 

 they bewail their luck, nerve, or resolution. Lastly 

 there are those who never jump, and acknowledge 

 they do not intend to do so. Many of them see 

 a good deal of sport, and are generally up at the 

 finish, for they study the country, the foxes' and 

 the hounds' idiosyncrasies. The moral therefore is, 

 when you find your nerves fail, and the favourite 

 hunter does not give confidence, study gates and 

 gaps, and make up your mind never to jump 

 at all. Then you may take an active part in 

 hunting till you are no longer able to mount a 

 horse. 



