ROWLAND HUNT AND HIS SUCCESSORS. 43 



li, merely remained for the succeeding masters to keep up this 

 standard, which, it can be asserted with truth, they have not 

 failed to do. 



Douglas was remarkable for his versatility. Few Etonians 

 can boast the honour of having had such a career at Eton as he. 

 Senior keeper of the Field, Master of the Beagles, and a 

 prominent member of the Cricket XI., is a wonderful record for 

 anyone. Here is a letter from R. D. Anderson, a whip in 1878, 

 which includes one or two interesting anecdotes : 



''It is difficult to think of special incidents with regard to 

 the beagles in 1878 when I was first whip, but I enjoyed every 

 moment of it. 



'* Douglas had a delightful personality, and there was no 

 friction of any sort with farmers or school authorities. 



" After a strenuous football season, during which Douglas 

 had been senior keeper of the Field, he was obliged, by doctor's 

 orders, to be rather careful of himself, so that occasionally he 

 had to take a rest from the active duties of huntsman. He was 

 also in the Cricket XI. and got 53 at Lord's against Harrow. I 

 remember on one occasion, when the hounds were about to cross 

 a road, hearing a lady's voice call out ' Stop.' This was not a 

 request to the hounds or the Field, but an order from Her late 

 Majesty Queen Victoria to stop her wagonette, a carriage she 

 invariably used in her drives round Windsor, to allow the hounds 

 to go by without interfering with the sport. 



" On another occasion a stag which was being hunted by 

 the royal staghounds crossed a field which we were drawing, and, 

 although we did our best to whip them off, two-thirds of the pack 

 went after the stag, and we did not get them all back for nearly 

 a fortnight. Only a few months ago I was interested to discover 

 that quite accidentally I had originated the jacket now adopted 

 by the hunt. I never could run unless thoroughly warm, and 

 upon asking Denman & Goddard what was the thickest material 

 they could suggest I ordered a velveteen Norfolk jacket, which I 

 still possess." 



Douglas went into the Church and, I am sorry to say, died 

 about a year ago ; he rose to be a Canon and lived at Cheveley, 

 near Newmarket, respected and revered wherever he went. 



Invitation meets were always a joy in those days. Once or 

 twice every season the E.C.H. used to meet outside their own 

 country at the invitation of various hospitable people. One of 

 the most favourite of these meets was at Wooburn Green, where a 

 certain Mr. Gilbey lavished hospitality on the master and whips 

 and a few kindred spirits. This particular meet was famed for 



