HISTORY OF THE LINLITHGOW 



lean, whose chestnut head was often to be seen 

 looking out over the half-door of his loose-box near 

 the house after he had been " pensioned," dis- 

 tinguished himself by winning the Scottish Grand 

 National of 1899 and the Linlithgow and Stirling- 

 shire Hunt Cup at Oatridge in that year. In 

 1909, after several winters spent in the Grafton 

 country, Mr Meldrum came to live on his property 

 at Dechmont, and in hunting regularly last season 

 with the pack which he had first followed in the 

 year 1886, has renewed many old friendships. 



In bringing this narrative to a conclusion, it is 

 not inappropriate to acknowledge the unvarying 

 kindness shown by Sir Kobert Usher towards the 

 Hunt during these later years, or to wish him and 

 Mr Meldrum good sport in a country which at one 

 time was considered the best in Scotland, and 

 which, in spite of drawbacks, is still well worthy 

 of being hunted. 



The pictures reproduced give to this history an 

 interest which it would not otherwise have had, 

 and although they are numerous, yet another, "The 

 First Morning's Cub-hunting," may be conjured up. 

 It is dark as the place of meeting — the forester's 

 house at Parkhead — is approached, and so still, 

 that it is difficult to believe that from thirty to 

 fifty couples of hounds stand waiting in the shelter 

 of that ivy-covered wall. But the grey dawn of 

 a September morning steals in swiftly and, as soon 

 as there is light sufficient, the master gives orders 

 for the big wood to be drawn. To the covert- 



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