THE WAR AND THE FINAL TRIUMPH. 89 



I can say is that, whatever foundations there were for starting 

 the rumour (it started long before my time), there is certainly 

 very little reason for going on with it. 



** The popularity of beagling amongst Masters, boys, farmers, 

 and even outsiders, is very fast on the increase, and may beagling 

 at Eton one day fulfil my most extravagant dreams, for I assure 

 you there is no better training for mind and body to be got 

 anywhere for the modest sum of two pounds."'^ 



To T. C. Barnett-Barker it is impossible to render sufficient 

 praise. His interest in the E.C.H. was whole-hearted. He was 

 not a great runner. He had not a particularly good hound voice. 

 But nevertheless, his perseverance and keenness overcame every- 

 thing, and he provided the only thing necessary to render 

 beagling at Eton as popular as it has ever been, a really good 

 season. To kill 36 hares in 49 hunting days with a pack 

 consisting largely of eight season hounds is a great achievement. t 

 But this is what he did, and now it will be comparatively easy 

 for future Masters to continue showing good sport. 



During Barnett-Barker 's Mastership Mr. R. S. de Havilland, 

 who had filled the post of Treasurer since 1899, expressed his 

 intention of resigning. He was presented with an illuminated 

 address by the hunt. I have already mentioned how much he 

 had done for the beagles. His death has caused a vacancy at 

 Eton which it is impossible to refill, and the E.C.H. has lost its 

 best friend. No stauncher supporter ever existed. Requiescat 

 in pace, 



Mr. E. V. Slater has taken on the duties of Treasurer, and 

 has already proved himself to be a worthy successor to his great 

 predecessor. 



And what of Champion ? Or should I say of the Champions, 

 for the family now consists of four ? Champion married in 1903, 

 and the family besides himself are his wife, than who no kinder 

 or more courteous woman ever existed, his son George, who with 

 the blood of so many huntsmen in his veins is certain to prove his 

 worth, and who is already showing that he is inheriting his 

 father's knowledge and love of hounds, and his five-year-old 

 daughter Marjory, to whom the hounds are always ready to lend 

 their backs for a ride. Those readers who have ever had the 

 pleasure of knowing Champion will be pleaded to hear that he 

 ran third in the veterans' race at the police sports at Aylesbury, 



* Since Barnett-Barker's days the. subscription has been lowered to 

 £\ 10s. 



t Perhaps this is a fitting place to mention that Bambridge & Co. by 

 Windsor Bridge set up both masks and pads extremely well. 



