482 SYSTEM OF KENNEL AND 



hold first-class preferment for several seasons in 

 fashionable districts, but is not easy of attainment 

 by others located in the provinces, where the fields 

 are very select, and douceurs consequently scanty. 



Huntsmen and whippers-in are generally regarded 

 in the light of public servants ; and where the ex- 

 penses of the establishment are borne by the master, 

 gentlemen who hunt regularly with his hounds deem 

 it imperative to assist the officials, who afi'ord them 

 so much amusement, without any other pull upon 

 their pockets. Members of a subscription hunt may 

 say with some justice, "We pay your master for 

 your services ; he charges us with all the expenses 

 incidental to his establishment — the maintenance of 

 servants, horses, hounds, and all etceteras ; therefore 

 you have no reason to expect extra remuneration 

 from us." 



This, in many cases, is true enough; and we 

 have known instances where subscribers have as- 

 sumed a superiority over the master, by insisting 

 upon the dismissal of a huntsman or whipper-in 

 falling short of their requirements. Probably some 

 of my readers may have heard of the unenviable 

 position of a *^ toad under a harrow :" it is a very 

 old, though not very elegant, adage— supposed to be 

 a very accurate description, in a few words, of a 

 man labouring under distracting difficulties, tossed 

 about from pillar to post, as the unfortunate reptile 

 is from time to time by the implement over his 

 head. 



If not actually obliged to perform the part of 

 toad, subscription masters are often accused of acts 



