16 THE ETON COLLEGE HUNT. 



The Beagling Book of this period abounds in quotations from 

 the inimitable Mr. Jorrocks. 



'* Better to rove in fields for health unbought 

 Than fee the doctor for a nauseous draught," 



is a very true maxim, and Lewis has very aptly applied it to 

 Beagling. Even as early as Thackeray's season, however, they 

 killed one wild hare after a good run. But a drag was the usual 

 order, and it was poor sport really for boys especially because 

 hounds ran as if glued to the scent. Occasionally this was varied 

 with a rabbit, but just as the hare almost invariably escaped, so 

 did the rabbit almost invariably succumb before two fields had 

 been crossed. 



Of course the great handicap was time. But the letter which 

 1 have already given has shown the immense difficulties in this 

 respect. What enthusiasm was required to surmount them all 

 and to carry on as they did ! 



All the accounts of the College Races are also included in the 

 Journal Book. There was an unpleasant incident at the end of 

 the season which may as well be recorded just to show how to 

 deal with people who are not gentlemen. 



'' It was much to be regretted that several ' gentlemen,' 

 who in no way contributed to keep up sport, thought it necessary 

 to make remarks which only showed their ignorance of the art 

 of venery, and complained of there being no sport for their 

 adequate remuneration for subscriptions. Their subscriptions 

 were returned, and, extraordinary to relate, the E.C.H. still 

 existed. These gentlemen ( ?), like the ' London Brigade ' 

 with the Queen's Hounds, were generally if not always choked 

 off at the first check, and, if there was no check, were indeed 

 ' lost to sight ' but not ' to memory dear.' " 



And here is the obituary notice of a really kind and pleasant 

 farmer, Mr. Gough of Datchet. A sporting farmer is a 

 treasured article in any country, and when one dies the Hunt 

 sustains a serious loss. This Mr. Gough had been particularly 

 good to the E.C.H. 



" The E.C.H. has much reason to regret the loss of Mr. 

 Gough, a tenant farmer, who by his sportsmanlike conduct 

 conduced in no small measure to the prosperity of the Hunt. 

 On his land a sure find might be anticipated, and bagmen were 

 unknown commodities. By his example several of the surrounding 

 farmers were induced to open their lands to the E.C.H., and, 

 though a lawn meet was not often the fashion, Mr. Gough 's 

 hospitable house was never drawn blank for beer and luncheon. 



