6 A HUNTING CATECHISM 



There is one thing, however, which binds all 

 hunts in one brotherhood, in whatever kind of 

 country their lot may be cast — one and all are 

 dependent upon the hound for their sport. 

 Without its marvellous gift of scent hunting 

 would consist merely of coursing, and the amount 

 of interest and enjoyment which can be obtained 

 in watching the hounds make use of their powers 

 in unravelling the mazy shifts of their game is 

 just the same in a fast galloping country or the 

 reverse. Indeed, in this respect the rougher 

 countries rather have the advantage, for the 

 pursued has there so many more opportunities of 

 using its cunning that the hounds are corre- 

 spondingly called upon to make increased efforts 

 to cope with its wiles. 



Times are changing fast, and the old order 

 gives place to the new. Whether hunting will 

 continue to hold its own when great estates are 

 broken up into small holdings it is impossible 

 to forecast, but it will be a bad day for the nation 

 if the horn of the hunter ceases to be heard in 

 the land. Apart from the immense amount of 

 money put into circulation through the agency 

 of hunting, and the vast amount of employment 

 directly and indirectly attributable to it, there 

 is a bringing together of different classes of society 

 that can be effected in no other way ; and they 

 get to know and respect each other's good qualities 

 in a manner that can but be for the very best 

 interests of the nation, though possibly pre- 

 judicial to the political agitator, who prefers to 

 get his living by setting class against class, instead 

 of by honest labour. 



