198 THE HUNTING FIELD 



separate, they " bind you over " to appear again on that day 

 three months, or inform you that they are to have the pleasure 

 of meeting you at dinner the next day at the new goal you are 

 going to. 



Let us take the converse of this sad picture. Let us suppose 

 a country house in a hunting country, and see the influence 

 field sports have in procuring society. It is just like the 

 difference between a volunteer and a pressed man. Instead of 

 a hostess having to send out urgent solicitations to some, and 

 embossed cards to others, the probability is that the fixture of 

 the hounds, in the county papers, conveys the first intimation 

 that she may prepare for a party ; and instead of apologies, 

 excuses, and backings out, the plot thickens as the time 

 approaches. 



We have heard it said that extempore speeches are always 

 the best, and we have met people simple enough to believe 

 well-conned orations were extempore; but that is a "fallacy" 

 that does not require Dr. Dixon to expose. We think we shall, 

 however, be borne out by our readers in assertmg that extempore 

 parties are generally the pleasantest, especially extempore parties 

 of sportsmen. People may object to the conversation of 

 foxhunters, just as they may object to the conversation of 

 lawyers, soldiers, sailors, or any other class of men, but surely 

 'brisk, animated conversation of any sort is infinitely preferable 

 to the forced, up-hill driblets of words proceeding from 

 constrained people with nothing in common. Put the case in 

 its very worst form, it leaves the unconcerned, uninterested 

 guest the privilege of running his own thoughts and ideas 

 through his mind, without those tiresome interruptions and 

 appeals that invariably accompany forced attempts at " most 

 delightful evenings." Eagerness and animation, however, are 

 catching, particularly over wine, and we have seen many a 

 jolly, laid-on-the-shelf-sportsman, and even unentered host, 

 the one forget his years, the other his ignorance, and under the 



