FoX'hMnting Past and Present 



attributed to Mr. Thomas Noel, and still more so 

 that it has continued ever since. Anthony TroUope 

 in one of his charming romances depicts the 

 astonishment of the American, that because people 

 hunted they could go over lands of others as if it 

 all belonged to them. The national respect for the 

 foxhound has had much to do with it, though. He 

 is bred at the kennels, but in many cases belongs 

 to the hunting country in which his lot is cast, 

 then he is walked by a member of the hunt, or 

 more frequently by a friend of the same, one of 

 those who have no objection to their lands being 

 ridden over. In the times of Assheton Smith, and 

 even in those of Lord Henry Bentinck, the pups' 

 walking was all done for honour and glory, but of 

 late years three or four silver cups were presented 

 to those who rear the best. This new development 

 has added to the spirit of the cause. A couple 

 or three years back a puppy was taken by an old 

 stone-breaker in Lord Middleton's hunt. The 

 little thing in her small days would lie upon his 

 coat all day on a near heap of stones, sharing his 

 bread and cheese at noon, and certain of a good 

 supper at night. She proved the best of the bitch 

 entry, and the cup went to the stone-breaker. 

 Lord Middleton kindly thought that a five-pound 

 note would be more acceptable than the cup, 

 and so sent that proposal. ^^Na, na," said the 



road-maker, " I might spend the money, but the 



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