12 2 In Scarlet and Silk 



which formerly walked so amiably hand in 

 hand. Nowadays, many a man owns steeple- 

 chase horses who is not even in sympathy 

 with hunting, let alone a participator in " the 

 sport of kings." Unfortunately, the game 

 has got more and more into the hands of 

 the racing fraternity, and farther and farther 

 away from hunting and its votaries. The 

 era of the jovial dinner, the merry challenge 

 across the table, the laughing acceptance, the 

 stakes deposited then and there, time, con- 

 ditions, and place settled on over the last 

 cigar — all this has passed away, never to 

 return. There is too much of the " IVe got 

 a good horse, but I don't mean anybody to 

 know it" spirit abroad, and too little of the 

 fine old rough-and-ready " I'll match mine 

 against yours, and may the best horse win " 

 principle. There is too much planning and 

 "clearing the way," too little of running for 

 the sport's sake alone. We ought to be very 

 thankful for the great revival of Point to 

 Point races, which will go far to warm up 

 the chilly blood of steeplechasing, and which 



