148 SYSTEM OF KENNEL AND 



will arise between master and man, where tbe 

 greatest cordiality should exist, when the latter is 

 blest with an infirmity of temper, it is obvious that 

 the well-being of the pack depends in a great 

 measure upon a quiet, kindly disposition, combined 

 with patience and forbearance. Animals generally, 

 dogs particularly, will not attach themselves to men 

 of harsh, violent tempers ; they judge us as we 

 judge them and our fellow-beings, by that most 

 unerring index of the spirit breathing within — the 

 eye. With what reluctance have we witnessed 

 pointers and setters following and obeying a sulky, 

 ill-conditioned brute of a keeper, who, upon resist- 

 ance or misunderstanding his orders, would nearly 

 flay them alive ; and although huntsmen, by the 

 rules and nature of their office, are not permitted to 

 flog their hounds, and cannot positively be accused 

 of showing bad temper in the field, we can tell by 

 the manner of their dependants towards them the 

 characters of the men, without examining their phy- 

 siognomy. Beckford relates an instance of a hunts- 

 man who used to flog his hounds whilst at the 

 feeding-troughs, quaintly remarking, that " he sup- 

 posed if they did not get a bellyful one way they 

 got it the other ; "' and in our days the whip is too 

 frequently used, and without discrimination, in the 

 kennel during the dinner hour, as well as at other 

 times. There is too much hastiness and bustle, 

 and b}'- far too many liounds let in together to the 

 feeding-court. They rush about over each other, 

 chopping at their food like a lot of half-starved 

 pigs, half-choking themselves in swallowing as much 



