202 THE HUNTING FIELD 



to the axles began to think they ran easier on hard surfaces. 

 Gradually roads became better, and the old fat maggots of 

 horses were thought equal to two journeys a week instead of 

 one. Country houses in former da\-s were like besieged towns, 

 where it was necessary to keep a large stock of everything, and 

 where everything and everybody was taken in and welcomed. 

 Inns were then the characteristic of towns, but the improvement 

 of roads and consequent increase of communication have 

 established them in nearl}- all parts where a trade can be 

 driven, and with their establishment the old system of taking 

 in servants and horses has been gradually going out. Some 

 object to the discontinuance of the custom, as contrary to the 

 principles of old English hospitalit}-, but like all antiquated 

 customs it is as well to get rid of it where no present advantage 

 is derived, and when the circumstances that gave rise to the 

 custom have disappeared. If society is looked upon as the 

 medium of conversation and the interchange of sentiments 

 and opinions, then it cannot be said that servants or horses 

 contribute to the purpose ; and though it might be a breach of 

 hospitality to send a friend's horses away to bad stabling, it 

 \\ould look rather like " sponging " to send them to private 

 stables when there is good standing in the neighbourhood. Of 

 course all this must be received with due allowance for time 

 and peculiarity of situation, also for the operation of the 

 reciprocity system. It is a ver}^ different thing taking a friend's 

 horse in over night, and a string of horses coming for a month. 

 In the one case the accommodation is great to the sender, and 

 the expense is nothing to the receiver ; added to which, if a 

 sportsman, he will have a billet for his horse on the other side 

 of the country, but it would be an awful tax upon the owner of 

 a house in a good hunting countrv if he was expected to take 

 in the studs of all the friends that the fame of the country 

 might draw within its limits. 



A place in a country Squire's house is generally looked upon 



