THE OUORN AT KIRBY GATE 29 



itself is a quaint old house, standing inside a park, 

 at one time being used as a hunting-box by Sir 

 Francis Burdett, and situated within a few miles 

 of Melton Mowbray in a sea of grass country ; it 

 is typical of Leicestershire. In the same way that 

 Derby day is a public holiday for the Londoner, so 

 the opening meet of the Quorn is regarded as an 

 annual picnic for Leicester and all who live within 

 a wide radius of the scene. For ourselves, each 

 recurring occasion is a milestone in life's journey, 

 that brings a sense of congratulation to find we 

 are still " on the active list." The Leicestershire 

 pastures and fences, sacred to the 

 memory of ''Squire" Osbaldeston, 

 Assheton Smith, and many another 

 master, still make the most famous 

 county in England the playground 

 of soldiers, statesmen, and all sorts 



of people. We claim for hunting The Quorn Hunt 



that it does more to make Enghsh- ^""°" 



men what they are, and keep them as they are, 

 than any other branch of sport. 



The old cobble-paved streets of Melton resound 

 with the clatter of horses' feet any hunting morning, 

 as they start out with their second horsemen to 

 some distant meet. Time was when the thorough- 

 going Meltonians followed later, sitting behind a 

 fast-trotting buggy-horse or on the back of a 

 galloping hack. Now a procession of storm-proof- 

 covered motors rush through the town — the latest 

 accessories to sport — bearing in luxurious ease the 

 leaders of the chase. Perhaps those most to be 

 envied are the followers in pony-carts, having no 

 ambition to compete over a country with the riding 

 division, contented to view the battle from afar 

 without hurrying through the day, feehng all the 



