THE EARTH-STOPPER 97 



demesne, will not insure what the single word " popularity" 

 will achieve. Popularity is, in truth, the foundation of fox- 

 hunting. It is very true that the sport is popular itself, but it 

 is also equally true that a popular man with moderate means 

 will far outstrip in his show of foxes the richest millionaire 

 who lacks that quality. 



Not that we mean to insinuate that keeping a regular Earth- 

 stopper is any sign of want of popularity ; on the contrary, 

 we have known some most popular Masters who have always 

 had them, but we say that half a hundred regular Earth- 

 stoppers will not insure foxes to a Alaster who is personally 

 offensive or objectionable. Fox-preserving, like voting by 

 ballot, is a good deal matter of conscience. A man promises 

 to " preserve " just as he promises to " vote " for you, but 

 if he keeps his own counsel you cannot detect the contrary. 

 After all is said and done, therefore, popularity is the best 

 fox-finder. 



There is something very sporting and picturesque about 

 a fox earth. They are generally in romantic, sequestered, 

 secluded places; in deep ravines, or on the side of woody hills. 

 Their adjuncts are all pure and rural. The clean thrown up 

 sand at the mouth, the projecting rock above, or knarled root 

 supporting its lofty time-honoured oak, with the little accom- 

 paniments of bright growing hazel, knotty black thorn, and 

 withered fern or faded heath. It is strange how fox after fox 

 draws to the same spot ; what was a breeding earth a century 

 ago is a breeding earth now, and is as notorious to a country 

 as a turnpike gate. How creditable it is to the lower orders 

 that they should be held, as they are, inviolate, at least in all 

 countries where hounds come, or are even expected to come. 

 The man who has killed a fox is quite as much an object of 

 execration among the lower orders, as the acred vulpecide is 

 in the higher circles, with the disagreeable addition of moving 

 among men accustomed to speak their minds without the gloss 



H 



