2$2 



other convenient phrases to boot, which are neither 

 more nor less, to use a mild expression, than down- 

 right sophistries. The truth is, such riders have no 

 more genuine intention of following hounds than 

 hounds have of following them, and that for the best 

 of all good reasons — they dare not. These inexperi- 

 enced riders frequently do a great amount of damage, 

 possibly unintentionally, by galloping over newly- 

 sown wheat and young seeds during wet weather 

 which naturally turns many farmers against the hunt. 

 These indiscretions are never indulged in, unless 

 under very exceptional circumstances, by true hunt- 

 ing men. Barbed wire is one of the modern curses 

 of hunting, and if more discretion were exercised 

 by these reckless riders, probably less of it would 

 be used. It is gratifying to observe that some masters 

 of hounds are offering prizes to farmers whose farms 

 are free from barbed wire. Farmers will be acting 

 in their own interests to encourage hunting as much 

 as possible, because in the maintenance of hunters, 

 hounds, and hunt servants, the annual expenditure 

 in this country approaches the enormous sum of 

 ;^8,ooo,ooo. 



It is often infinitely amusing at the break-away 

 with a field of thirty or forty riders. There is a 

 general rush forward, reins are tightened, hats are 

 pressed on, spurs are dug in, and these hot-headed 

 would-be followers, who, however, are only followers 

 in name, are off like random rockets at full racing 

 stride, applying the whip with an onslaught which 



