FOX-HUNTING AND ITS FUTURE 



again occur to the deer during the progress of the 

 chase, seems to arouse more enemies than any other 

 pastime — excepting, perhaps, pigeon-shooting ; and it 

 is difficult to see why its votaries should not be just as 

 well content with a rousing run with draghounds as 

 with the chase of a tame deer, to which, without any 

 intentional cruelty, accidents, involving pain and 

 suffering to the animal pursued, do undoubtedly 

 happen. It speaks well for the vigour and condition 

 of our gentry at the beginning of the twentieth 

 century that so many amateurs are to be found carry- 

 ing the horn and undertaking not only with willing- 

 ness, but with the keenest zest and pleasure, the 

 hard and difficult duties of a professional huntsman. 

 Peter Beckford, in his admirable Thoughts upon Hunt- 

 ings has remarked that, in the opinion of a great 

 sportsman, it is as difficult to find a perfect huntsman 

 as a good Prime Minister. And he enumerates these 

 qualities as being necessary in that calling, **a clear 

 head, nice apprehension, undaunted courage, strength 

 of constitution, activity of body, a good ear, and a good 

 voice." He might well have added to these qualifica- 

 tions "an abounding patience." It will not be con- 

 tended that every amateur huntsman of the present day 

 unites in his person all these attributes. There are the 

 good and indifferent among gentlemen huntsmen, as 

 there are in all other phases of life. But it may be said, 

 as a general rule, that a fair proportion of our amateurs 

 are sound huntsmen, and show excellent sport. A 

 certain number, prominent in this last decade, among 

 whom may be named the Duke of Beaufort, the late 

 Lord Willoughby de Broke, Mr. John Watson — 

 still actively engaged — and that famous amateur, 

 Colonel Anstruther Thomson — a veteran now retired 

 from the active management of hounds — may be cited 



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