SPORTS^LIN 205 



Xothing is more common, though most absurd, 

 than for men who reside in a particular quarter 

 in a hunting country' to confine themselves to the 

 meets of the hounds in that quarter, although they 

 meet often quite as near, or nearer, and in a better 

 country, probably the other side of some road, 

 which is this person's boundary. It is true they 

 know that comitr}' better ; but surely to men who 

 can ride, the A\'ilder and stranger a country' is the 

 more it is hke fox-hunting. It ib the doubtful 

 feeUng; when a fox is found, not kno'vvLno: where 

 you wWl be the next ten minutes, that makes fox- 

 hunting so different from aU other sports. ^len 

 who really like sport had better go ten miles to 

 meet hounds in a good country, than tvvo in a 

 bad one. 



AMien men have favoiuite horses they do not 

 hke to rmi any risk by sending them on over- 

 night from fifteen to twenty miles, but prefer 

 sendino; them on earlv in the mornino- ; wliich is 

 certauily an odd way of showing their regard, for 

 on no occasion can it happen but that a good imi 

 is to be fomid near the place of meetmg, and 

 surely there can be no hesitation whether to 

 choose a horse which has been traAcUing three or 

 four hours, or one fresh out of the stable, even if 



