142 FINISHING LESSONS 



day, I should, in September, always recommend him to 

 dine at one o'clock, and shoot in the afternoon (the 

 grand time for filling the bag). His nerves are then 

 sure to be in a pretty good state for shooting, and his 

 head perhaps would then be less disposed for applica- 

 tion. When he returns, let him take with his refresh- 

 ment tea or coffee, instead of other beverage, after which 

 he will feel himself cool, clear-headed, and again fit for 

 business, instead of being disposed to throw himself 

 into an arm-chair and snore away the evening in concert 

 with his dog. Do not let him think that by thus ad- 

 vising I wish to deprive him of his nightcap, or he may 

 at once condemn me and my book for ever ! No ! if 

 he likes grog, or other liquor, he may finish the evening 

 with a bucketful, only let business be first done, and 

 put out of the way. 



For gentlemen who require a delicate hand in draw- 

 ing, mechanism, surgical operations, music, &c. &c., I 

 should advise them always to shoot in gloves, and the 

 moment they return from the field to wash their hands 

 in very warm water, using with it a more than usual 

 quantity of soap ; or their hands, by constant shooting, 

 will, for a time, become so coarse and hard as to spoil 

 and unfit them, in some degree, for that nicety which 

 may be required in their more valuable occupations. 

 Many people cannot, or rather fancy that they cannot 

 shoot in gloves, and consequently their hands become 

 as coarse as those of a gamekeeper, which, utterly as I 

 abhor dandyism, I must yet observe is not quite in 

 unison with the appearance of a perfect gentleman. I 

 shall, therefore, recommend to them dark kid gloves, 

 which will stand a month's shooting much better than 

 might be supposed ; and if they fit nicely to the fingers, 



