THE SQUIRE 195 



importance to the well-being of a country. They not only 

 engender a fine manly daring spirit among all who are in any 

 way drawn within the scope of their influence, but they 

 materially tend to promote a healthy spirit of sociality and 

 intercourse among neighbours. Nor are their beneficial effects 

 confined to the mere followers of field sports ; all the inhabi- 

 tants of a district, all who are in any way dependent upon 

 others for the amusement of themselves or friends, are benefited 

 by their existence and prosperity, and interested in their main- 

 tenance. To illustrate this, let us look at the case of a large 

 country house in a sporting district, and one in a country where 

 there is neither hunting nor shooting. 



The great difference between London society and country 

 society is this : — In London we get people together just when 

 and for as long as we want them, at a time of day and under 

 circumstances peculiarly adapted to the development of any- 

 thing like information, talent, or humour; whereas in the 

 country, people must be thrown more upon each other- than 

 the average stock of reminiscences and parish politics will 

 find conversation for. Here people get into their carriages, 

 if they have them, or street equipages if they have not, and 

 five or ten minutes will take them to their most distant friend ; 

 but in the country, visiting is oftentimes a serious job — a 

 matter of two or three days' business. And then comes the 

 consideration, what are a host and hostess to do with their 

 good friends when they have got them scraped together? Now, 

 we take it will be readily conceded by all who have tried it, 

 that of all dull, wearisome, up-hill work, there is nothing equal 

 to dragging out a tedious existence among people with whom 

 we have little in common, where breakfast, luncheon, and 

 dinner are the only alleviations of the settled stream of in- 

 active monotony ; in other words, that mere eating and drink- 

 ing are not sufficient inducements to draw people from home. 

 Have we a country reader unoppressed with the mental 



