THE KILDARE HOUNDS. 1 7 



no expense. He used to hunt his hounds five days a 

 fortnight, and the country extended as far as Oakley 

 Park, in Carlow, and Loughcrew, in the county Meath. 

 Of course the custom at that time was to be out at 

 dawn of day. Jigginstown, where the kennels 

 now stand, was a very favourite tryst, and many an 

 ardent sportsman, who now lies *' mouldering in the 

 grave," spent hours there on a wild winter's morning 

 seeking shelter beneath the ruins of the unfortunate 

 Earl of Strafford's intended palace, awaiting the return 

 of the " varmint " to these favourite earths. 



The men of those days were men of " metal,'* 

 so to speak, far different, alas! from the not effeminate^ 

 though more polished and as ardent sportsmen of 

 to-day. ;: 



The habitues of the hunting field, of late years, 

 may have often seen, when standing on the hill 

 which overhangs that magnificent piece of gorse 

 known as Elverstown Covert, John Nolan, a man who 

 has catered to the wants of the fox family — bless their 

 brushes — for years past. Well, his father was earth- 

 warner during Sir John's time, and he frequently 

 received his instructions from him in Johnstown- 

 Kennedy on a winter's evening, walked to Loughcrew,- 

 stopped the earths there, and returned to Elverstown, 

 doing the long journey and his business within the 

 twenty-four hours. There were not giants in those 

 days ; but there were many men of slender mould made 

 of sterner stuff than those of the present generation. 



The Club was very much in debt in 1814, the sum 

 total of the liabilities having amounted to no less than 

 ;^ 2,400. The foxes were more numerous then than now. 

 The runs were generally longer too ; the gentry did all 



