IDEAS ON DOG-BREAKING. 267 



cident among a covey, which his experience told him 

 he would flush if he moved, and from that day a new 

 era commenced in his life. But this is not so much to 

 be Wondered at. Can not all of us remember some 

 contemporaries at school who were supposed to be 

 almost wanting common sense, but who, ultimately, 

 turned out brilliant men? Intellect is not equally 

 rapidly developed in each, and precocity is not al- 

 ways the precursor of brilliancy in mature life. 



Having said thus much about our favorites, I can 

 scarcely lay down my pen without expressing an idea 

 or two on the lords of the creation. Bad sportsmen 

 never have good dogs. The fussy, nervous, excitable 

 person never has good dogs. It is a moral impossi- 

 bility that they can be so, although they may have 

 been most perfectly broken. In such hands they are 

 certain to retrograde in performance, in the same way 

 that the regiment that is perfect in its drill when 

 under its cool and collected colonel, becomes a rabble 

 under the irate, irascible, nervous major. " Keep cool" 

 should be your motto ; for if you can not, your suc- 

 cess will only be moderate. Nothing is so destruc- 

 tive to both dogs and success as hurry. Listen in 

 conclusion to the advice of an old and excellent 

 sportsman, and you will see that his ideas much coin- 



