1880] THE "BEAUTY" BALL. 37 



Messrs. Clowes, FitzHerbert, J. Smith, and Buller were seldom out of the front 

 rank, and some of the military contingent, whose names I do not know, went 

 straight and well. Hoping you will be able to find room for this, 



I remain yours, etc., 



A Looker Ox. 



Diary continued : — 



Friday, Elvaston Castle. — Found at Billington Hill, ran nearly down to Aston, 

 through Chellaston, where the hounds killed a fox in the covert, up to Elvaston, 

 and another ring round back into the gardens. Spent the rest of the day there. 



Saturday, Ansloiv. — Killed a fox from Dove Cliff osier-bed. Drew Rolleston, 

 the Henhurst, Sinai Park, etc., and Rangemore blank. Found a fox in the Holly 

 Covert, which ran to Byrkley, and got to ground under a tree. Byrkley blank. 

 A dearth of foxes over the whole forest side. They had been shooting at Range- 

 more and Henhurst. 



Mrs. Langtry was staying at Doveridge with Lord and 

 Lady Hindlip for the ball. On Sunday she was asked if 

 she would like to go to church, so the story goes, and her 

 answer was, " Oh no, I could not ; there would he such a 

 sta7'e ! " 



Mrs. Cornwallis West was also at the ball, staying, 

 the writer thinks, at Shipley, so the three rival beauties — 

 Mrs. Langtry, Mrs. Cornwallis West, and Mrs. Mundy of 

 Shipley (now Lady Shrewsbury) — all met at the ball. 

 It would have taxed the wits of Paris to have awarded 

 the prize. 



A correspondent says of this day : — 



Monday, JSlitJifield.— After drawing three of the Blithfield coverts blank, 

 Coley Wood found us a good fox, going away for Great Haywood, evidently 

 intending to give us a treat over Shugborough and Cannock Chace, but, being 

 headed in the road, he set his face for Blithfield, and, at a rattling pace, down to 

 Moreton Brook. Here the ranks got thinned. You could have counted on four 

 fingers those who got safely over, but not those who were in, or those who sat 

 rather tight in their saddles on the wrong side of this brook — one unfortunate 

 lady and gentleman especially looking much the worse for their dip. From 

 Newton the hounds could hardly own the line, and hunted slowly to Chartley, 

 where this fox was lost. While changing horse, and having a pull at one's flask, 

 the hounds had gone to draw the covert near Chartley Park. Soon a cheery 

 soimd was heard — " Gone away ! " Pointing for Loxley, he was headed ; turning 

 to the right, he went back to the park, and once more tried to go to Loxley with 

 no better luck. Headed, he now pointed for Blithfield, only again to be headed 

 at Blithford, turning to the left over the meadows by the River Blythe to Gratwich 

 and again to Chartley Park. Here the hounds ran up to their fox, and racing 

 him without the slightest check by Fradswell, Coton, Milwich, and Sandon Wood. 

 Pointing for Orange Hays, being almost dark, the hounds were with difficulty 



