HACK-HUNTERS 155 



That I showed some sort of promise may be gathered 

 from a letter written early in the following term, 1871 : 



I rowed in our Torpid one day last week, but probably shall 

 not do so again, as it was only to supply the place of a man who 

 could not row that day. However it shows that I stand next on 

 the list for preferment. 



We have just sent off some twenty or thirty pounds, collected 

 in the College, for the Paris Relief Fund. 



That was forty-seven years ago, and Paris had suffered 

 terribly from the Huns ; as France has done during the 

 past four years. This time, however, it is to be hoped the 

 invaders will be compelled to pay in full for their wanton 

 and widespread destruction. 



Whether I should ever have taken to the regular routine 

 which is essential to advancement in boating is more than 

 doubtful, but the disappointment over Morrison's Fours 

 had diverted me into a natural preference for hunting, 

 and so I had started on the " fearful joy " of riding hack- 

 hunters from Charlie Symonds' or Tollitt's stables, the 

 South Oxfordshire being the pack I at that time preferred 

 mainly, I expect, because Lord Macclesfield, the Master, 

 was the father of my friend, Sydney Parker. 



In those days it seemed possible to get satisfaction out 

 of almost anything, but an Oxford hack-hunter at 2 

 a day was certainly dear at the price. He would be 

 hunted not less than twice a week, and probably be hacking 

 at IDS. an afternoon during the remaining four days, 

 so that he earned more than his value in one term. 



Old Charlie Symonds was a stout, red-faced man, of 

 medium height, and with a peculiar twitch in his features, 

 somewhat of a St Vitus character. He knew all that was 

 worth knowing about horses and could sell you good ones 

 if he found you disposed to launch out. His nephew, 

 C. G. Symonds, commonly called " Master Charles," had 

 the Randolph Hotel stables, and he too was doing a similar 

 business, but of him I shall have a good deal more to 

 say later. The general subject is only introduced here to 



