THE SPORTING LEAGUE 345 



centres in the country, but he died, and Lord Durham, 

 when he became chairman of a House of Lords committee 

 on betting, felt that he could no longer occupy a one-sided 

 position ; so he retired, and our fighting forces were thus 

 sadly depleted. I myself had worked desperately hard, 

 and on one occasion even went down as principal speaker 

 at the Union (Oxford) in a Sporting League debate. .1 

 had never spoken there before and shall probably never 

 speak there again ; but we got a good majority on the 

 right side. The questions I drafted in those days for 

 Parliamentary candidates have never been improved on. 

 Here they are : 



TEST QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES 

 (COUNTY COUNCIL OR PARLIAMENTARY) 



1. Will you protect and maintain the rights of the people to 

 the free enjoyment of all sports, pastimes and recreations, such 

 as may at present be legitimately enjoyed ? 



2. Will you, in pursuance of the above undertaking, oppose 

 absolutely and do your utmost by all lawful means to thwart all 

 persons, other than legally constituted authorities, who may 

 endeavour to interfere directly or indirectly with the people's 

 sports, pastimes and recreations, or with any one of them, or with 

 any incident thereto ? 



3. Do you agree that the people should have liberty in their 

 sports, pastimes and recreations (under such rules as are from 

 time to time laid down by those who practically understand the 

 same), and that such liberty, while regulated by the law of the 

 land, should be exempt from all other interference whatsoever ? 



4. Do you further agree that all persons or bodies of persons 

 seeking in any way to obstruct, interfere with or suppress any 

 sport, pastime or recreation, or any incident thereto (the same 

 being decorously conducted and not contrary to law) should be 

 discouraged and discountenanced by magistrates, County Councils, 

 or other authorities before whom they may prefer complaints ? 



Space is rapidly contracting, but I cannot pass the 

 purchase of that beautiful Australian mare, Maluma, for 

 Mrs Langtry for 1000 guineas. She took a long time 

 to recover from the voyage, but turned out very good 



