196 THE BOOK OF THE OPEN AIR 



relations of landlord and tenant. A brief for either. Both were guests 

 sporting instinct was brought into on his property; and he, their host, 

 play. Better is this, than a hard-and- exercised an olden hospitality. If a 

 fast understanding, set down in legal thinker, he saw an advantage to the 

 phrase, and meant to be observed to partridge as well as to the fox. In 

 the letter, and the day. Inasmuch, any case, he found the interest to 

 as a contempt for meanness is better overpay the possible loss, 

 than much precept. Space and law This out-of-door life, the familiarity 

 were not denied. A little more than with wild creatures, these daily inci- 

 was in the bond : a share of the game dents gave much to tell over an even- 

 at a big shooting : a little off the ing's pipe ; for those who cared to use 

 rent in a bad season. Hard dealing, the pen much to write. From this 

 taking advantage, turning adrift, source, in Scotland at least, the natur- 

 worrying without giving a chance, alist appeared. Sometimes in the 

 were not common. Instead of which figure following the dogs up the hill- 

 were a certain kindly understanding, side ; sometimes in the angler stooping, 

 and neighbourly deeds : doing as one and dreaming over the current. Often, 

 would be done by. Not because of any in one who was a haunter alike of 

 maukish sentiment, but from kindly stream and moor. Therefore the 

 fellowship. I should be sorry indeed robuster naturalism of the north, 

 to think that sport was dying : it is brought into being, and freshened into 

 in the interests of all to see that it vigour during days spent out with the 

 does not die. We might spare a few rod and the gun. 

 codes and be all the freer and little There is a spawn of egg and skin 

 the worse j but a ready and breezy collectors, who have appropriated the 

 field morality we cannot well spare, name of naturalist. In the interest of 

 The olden sportsman was much some private hoard, or public museum, 

 abroad, saw the wild creatures in all men go about doing all the mischief 

 the phases of their lives, surprised they can, and bribing gamekeepers 

 them in many moods, met them at to help them. Such naturalism is not 

 tangled corners. At one time or robust. In it is no chivalry, no fair 

 other, he was present at the dramas play, no understanding with the wild 

 of the wilds. The fox prowled around creatures. Only a certain sneaking 

 the jugging partridges. He held no around, only a getting over the walls, 



