THE MASTER 31 



the weather and localities, must be aware that, during the 

 ticklish part of the season, hounds can often hunt in one part 

 of a country and not in another, and that "hunt" or "no 

 hunt " is sometimes the work of one capricious hour. When 

 the electric telegraph is established throughout the country, 

 out-lying gentlemen will have a better chance of being com- 

 municated with, but even then we question whether any of the 

 grumblers will come or not. As things stand, parties nearest 

 the kennel have the best chance, and properly so. Some 

 people are as difficult to please about their hunting as the 

 soldier was about his flogging. 



Mr. Beckford appears to have been clear both of subscribers, 

 clubs, committees, and all the modern paraphernalia of the 

 chase, most likely paying everything himself, and accommoda- 

 ting such sportsmen as chose to come to him on his own 

 terms. At all events his book is silent on the management of 

 a country, as it is called, though he makes a distinction be- 

 tween managing a pack of hounds and hunting them. On the 

 former point he says : " Some art may be necessary to make 

 the most of the country that you hunt. I would advise you 

 not to draw the covers near your house while you can find 

 elsewhere ; it will make them certain places to find in when 

 you go out late, or may otherwise be in want of them. For the 

 same reason, I would advise you not to hunt those covers late 

 in the season. They should not be much disturbed after 

 Christmas. Foxes will then resort to them, will breed there, 

 and you can preserve them with little trouble." 



We have heard various opinions as to the best man to hunt 

 a country, some advocating native Masters, others contending 

 that strangers are the best. It is a point on which much may 

 be said on both sides, though the great question hinges on the 

 style of man himself. Perhaps it may not be an unfair pro- 

 position to lay down, that a popular resident gentleman is 

 most likely to be agreeable to the farmers, while a sportsman 



