138 THE SPORTING WORLD. 



ill point of price at least twenty fold; so much 

 the better for the owners of them. The crowds 

 that now go down must cause a considerable 

 outlay of money in localities where twenty years 

 since a five-pound-note (the amount of an inn bill) 

 was an epoch; now the presence of lords, aye 

 and ladies fair is as much expected in August 

 as are strawberries in Covent Garden in their 

 proper season. A few years ago a rude car or 

 cart was the only kind of vehicle with which 

 Sandie claimed acquaintance, now the London 

 phaeton and barouche are as well known to 

 him as they are to the inhabitants of Grosvenor 

 Place. Thus far the present mania for grouse 

 shooting confers a benefit on society. 



Let us hope (what I do not believe) that 

 packs of grouse are like shoals of herrings, not 

 to be visibly diminished by any quantity killed. 

 Should it not be so, peradventure shortly the 

 grouse shooter will rise some fine morning and 

 find he has nothing left to shoot at. 



