THE SQUIRE 205 



immense importance to the well-being of a country. 

 They not only engender a fine manly daring spirit 

 among all who are in any way drawn within the scope 

 of their influence, but they materially tend to promote 

 a healthy spirit of sociality and intercourse among 

 neighbours. Nor are their beneficial effects confined 

 to the mere followers of field sports ; all the in- 

 habitants of a district, all who are in any way de- 

 pendent upon others for the amusement of them- 

 selves or friends are benefited by their existence and 

 prosperity, and interested in their maintenance. To 

 illustrate this, let us look at the case of a large country 

 house in a sporting district, and one in a country 

 where there is neither hunting nor shooting. 



The great difference between London society and 

 country society is this : — In London we get people 

 together just when and for as long as we want them, 

 at a time of day and under circumstances peculiarly 

 adapted to the development of anything like informa- 

 tion, talent, or humour ; whereas in the country, 

 people must be thrown more upon each other than 

 the average stock of reminiscences and parish politics 

 will find conversation for. Here people get into their 

 carriages, if they have them, or street equipages if 

 they have not, and five or ten minutes will take them 

 to their most distant friend ; but in the country, 

 visiting is oftentimes a serious job — a matter of two 

 or three days' business. And then comes the con- 

 sideration, what are a host or hostess to do with their 

 good friends when they have got them scraped 

 together ? Now, we take it will be readily conceded 

 by all who have tried it, that of all dull, wearisome, 

 up-hill work, there is nothing equal to dragging out a 

 tedious existence among people with whom we have 

 little in common, where breakfast, luncheon, and 

 dinner are the only alleviations of the settled stream 

 of inactive monotony ; in other words, that mere 

 eating and drinking are not sufficient inducements to 



