FIRST-HAND BITS OF STABLE LORE 



than market rates, will do much to cement good 

 feeling, and may be considered as return in part 

 for the privileges which the hunt enjoys. Of 

 course, gardens, new seeding, grain fields, etc., 

 must be sacred ; but here again the " dragman " 

 can easily arrange his journey so that no harm 

 shall ensue, and pasture, meadow, and lane only 

 be encroached upon. 



Wholly false ideas are entertained regarding 

 the cost of such undertakings, the original outlay 

 necessary, and the expense of maintenance. The 

 whole matter need run to but small figures, and the 

 spring, and fall (and summer's) hunting entails but 

 a mere bagatelle of outlay. If puppies are to be 

 bred and " walked," if high-cost horses are kept, 

 high-class servants employed, and costly kennels 

 built, money to any amount may be " chucked " 

 away ; but no such plans are contemplated here — 

 merely a rough-and-ready establishment, which 

 shall provide the maximum of fun at the mini- 

 mum of expense, unpretentrous, amateurish, and 

 the more amusing for that reason. Hound pups 

 are most difficult to rear, because of distemper, 

 and the mortality is always enormous among 

 them, while many which survive the disease are 

 either crippled or worthless ; cheap hunters, that 



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