406 SYSTEM OF KENNEL AND 



field prior to the advent of the present century, 

 simply because, we suppose, hunters of the past have 

 been pourtrayed in print with short tails instead of 

 long. This is a great mistake, good riders to hounds 

 in all previous days since foxhunting has been in 

 existence having shown a preference for thorough- 

 bred ones, although from prudential motives curtail- 

 ing an excessive longitude of horsehair. Bang tails 

 are the fashion now — short tails in bj^gone times. 

 Crinolines are also the fashion with women — per- 

 haps we ought to say, have been till very recently — 

 trains now. Well, we won^t cavil about trifles : but 

 will any young Englander have the face to tell us 

 that women were not as fair, as estimable, as ami- 

 able and equally well bred, if not with better blood 

 flowing in their veins, than those now flaunting in 

 public with their flowing dresses, for which a page 

 is requisite to uphold ? 



To confess our true opinion, we don^t think the 

 hunting-field quite the arena upon which women can 

 exhibit themselves to so great advantage as in the 

 drawing-room. Men admire the fair sex mainly be- 

 cause they possess those characteristics not common 

 to themselves ; and, on the other hand, women 

 generally love our sex because we possess qualifica- 

 tions the very antipodes to their own. A pretty 

 face, with a graceful figure, in female costume, on 

 horseback, is a very charming sight; but we had 

 rather behold it in Kotten Row than in the hunting- 

 field. There cannot be any more health-giving 

 invigorating exercise. What is lolling idly on the 

 soft cushions of a carriage compared to a seat in the 



