38 FOX-HUNTING FROM SHIRE TO SHIRE 



" It is a hunt of Christian names and nicknames, 

 and I am afraid that many of the youngsters have 

 little reverence for the older members who were 

 hunting the country long before they were born. 

 This, however, is only carrying out the spirit of the 

 age, and quite lately no one was surprised when 

 one of the pigtail brigade was heard to shout, ' You 

 can go home now, mother ; I shall stay for the 

 afternoon run.' 



" The master is in the prime of life, and by his 

 strong personality keeps the hunt popular with 

 everyone, for he is well backed up by a majority 

 of his field, who seem to think that hunting, as 

 one of the best occupations, should be treated 

 accordingly. I may add that the master is a big 

 man, whose mind is centred on fox-hunting, and 

 who, though too busy for gossip on a hunting day, 

 is very keen to hear afterwards what has been 

 done and said by his field. He works all day and 

 every day towards improving the condition of his 

 hunt. He is a careful breeder of hounds, has his 

 stable and kennels spick and span as it is possible 

 to make them, and turns his men out in the best 

 possible style. Though hunting a remote pro- 

 vincial country, he gets his horses of the best type 

 which money can buy, and when possible obtains 

 them in the neighbourhood. But he goes to town 

 for the saddlery, the coats, boots, and caps for his 

 men, and is particular almost to a fault about 

 the set of a stock, the placing of a spur, and all the 

 little etceteras which go to make a harmonious 

 whole. The fact is that he has hunted in many 

 other countries, and is not only particularly neat 

 himself, but insists on neatness in his staff. En- 

 thusiastic to an almost abnormal degree, he is 

 punctual at the meets, and loses no time in starting 



