Cwility and Courtesy. 127 



their possession, just because we have an 

 idea that '' Charles " is at home and in that 

 certain covert. Neither are they obHged by 

 any written or unwritten law, to allow a 

 hundred or so of horses and riders to break 

 down their fences and rails, or to gallop at 

 their own sweet will over the growing crops. 

 At the same time, if the proper means are 

 adopted, ninety-nine out of a hundred owners 

 and occupiers you will find are good fellows, 

 who will gladly consent to the hunting over 

 their land, and who will reck little or 

 nothing of the injuries that may be occasioned. 

 What are those '' proper means " ? In the 

 foremost rank stand civiHty and general 

 courtesy to all. I am quite sure that is one 

 of the chief features, if not the principal, to be 

 observed by a Master if his object is to enjoy 

 good sport, and above all to be held with 

 respect. I have heard many stories of 

 Masters and their roughness of bearing 

 towards anybody and everybody, but the 

 days of uncouth language and hard words 

 have gone, and it is, without a doubt, a great 



