228 THE COMPLETE HORSEMAN 



neighbours better those hasty and not very truth- 

 ful generaHsations which are sometimes put 

 about would soon be discredited, as indeed the 

 three incidents I have related abundantly 

 show. 



The question of dress at once presents itself 

 to the beginner in the hunting field. First then, 

 on no consideration should he ever go out hunt- 

 ing in a coloured neckcloth. A white one always 

 must be worn ; nothing else is admissible. And 

 a stock is the best form to adopt. There are 

 plenty of good hunting stocks to get and there is 

 therefore no need to particularise. Many famous 

 hunts have their special patterns but they all 

 look pretty much alike when they are on. A 

 small gold safety pin or small gold pin should be 

 used to secure them with ; anything in the way 

 of expensive jewellery is quite out of place in the 

 hunting field. 



A question which the beginner will have to 

 decide for himself — no one else can decide it for 

 him — is whether he will begin his hunting career 

 in the full war paint or in ratcatcher kit. If 

 he is wise he will let a season or two pass over 

 his head before he puts on scarlet, but if he is 

 so inclined I do not see any reason why he 

 should not wear the rest of the war paint on 

 the opening day of his first season. If he adopts 

 ratcatcher kit he should eschew brown boots, 

 and should wear Bedford cords and black jacks 

 if he would be smart. His coat under any cir- 

 cumstances should be dark, black or dark grey, 



