34 THE MASTER OF HOUNDS 



think that such cases are few and far between. At all 

 events, within my own experience, I have known only 

 two instances of this jealousy, and in neither instance 

 was there any reasonable cause for it. However, I 

 must revert to the petty grievances of the small farmer, 

 and dismiss them, before considering the actions of 

 certain disguised enemies of hunting, who hold in- 

 fluential positions in hunting countries. 



Perhaps the most common grievance of the small 

 farmer is that he has been snubbed by a member of the 

 swell snob brigade. He very naturally concludes that 

 the snob must be an important person, because he 

 wears a pink coat and, apparently, knows the leading 

 members of the Hunt. The truth is that the swell 

 snob has a nodding acquaintanceship with the leading 

 members of the Hunt, which is strictly confined to the 

 hunting-field, but which possesses no social significance 

 whatsoever. Still, the small farmer can hardly be ex- 

 pected to know that the man, who has treated him with 

 insolent contempt, would receive the cut direct in Pall 

 Mall, if he claimed acquaintance with the Master or 

 any other leading member of the Hunt. I have often 

 tried to discover whence these snobs come. The idea 

 that they are commercial men from our large manu- 

 facturing towns I have proved to my own satisfaction 

 to be false. At all events, I have been told that it is 

 false by Master of Hounds, by huntsmen, and by 

 tenant farmers. Besides, men who are engaged in 

 business know the value of la politessc, far too well to 

 offend people unnecessarily. My own belief is that they 

 are the sons, and I am sorry to add the daughters, of 



