CAPTAIN JOHN ORR-EWING 333 



Lord Ribblesdale was Master of the Buck- 

 hounds from 1892 to 1895. He once published 

 over his own signature in a London magazine 

 an amusino- account of an interview with Par- 

 nell. It happened that he travelled in the 

 same compartment with the Irish leader from 

 London to Holyhead. The first efforts of the 

 peer to draw the statesman into conversation 

 were met with the latter's well-known reticence. 

 He presently thawed, however, under the in- 

 fluence of his genial companion, and talked at 

 some length upon the " Irish Tenants' Arrears 

 Bill," which was then the great subject of 

 political interest. When the account of the 

 interview appeared Parnell never questioned 

 its accuracy, merely saying, with a twinkle in 

 his eye, that it was got by false pretences. 



The "Crown Inn" at Faringdon has very 

 frequently been referred to in these pages, from 

 the commencement of our history. It is situated 

 in the very centre of the country, and provides 

 most comfortable quarters for man and beast. 

 The present owner and holder, Mrs. Craddock, 

 is a great supporter of the Hunt, and has enter- 

 tained the field at her own expense upon 

 many occasions. The following conundrum 

 is a Hunt " Chestnut " : " Why is Mrs. Crad- 

 dock like Queen Victoria? " Answer: "Because 

 she is the legitimate owner of the Crown." 



