U(» TIIF. IirXTIXCi FIELD 



home on the morninf( of hunting, and when distances are 

 beyond that, with the probabihty of the draw being still 

 further uwa}', it is always desirable to let them lie out over 

 night. No doubt a horse does better in his own stable, just 

 as a man does better in his own bed ; but fourteen miles is 

 quite distance enough ; and even though some horses may do 

 more with impunity, still it takes a good deal away from the 

 pleasure of the day for a man to think that he has not power 

 enough under him to do what may be required. Imagination 

 has a great deal to do in the enjoyment of the chase, as well 

 as in other things. In going from home a servant should 

 take everything he usually requires, and never calculate on 

 finding anything at an inn. Having got everj'thing there, his 

 ne.xt care should be getting them back, for people are very apt 

 to " borrow." 



In naming fourteen miles as the outside distance, we are 

 talking of meets which are towards home. Gentlemen, whose 

 horses stand at head quarters, have a great advantage over 

 out-lying sportsmen, inasmuch as the}' ma\- readily calculate 

 on their horses being able to do as much as the horses of the 

 hunt ; but supposing the fixture to be at the kennel, and a 

 man travels fourteen miles to get to it, he need not be sur- 

 prised at finding himself trotted half as far again on the other 

 side before the day is done. 



Lying out over night entails the necessity of being able to 

 pack, a thing very few servants are up to. So long as 

 they unpack, also, so that "master" does not see the 

 state of confusion things are in, they are very easy how 

 they are spoiled by being crammed and squeezed together. 

 Soldiers" servants are always capital hands at packing. We 

 often wish to get one of them to give a clumsy packer a lesson 

 in the art. There is another thing soldiers' Grooms excel in, 

 and that is in the saving of bedding. Instead of covering the 



