CRITICISMS OF HIS FOLLOWERS 167 



giving offence when drafting his young hounds in these 

 days, when the " walking of puppies " is ahnost 

 entirely in the hands of the fair sex. Naturally, the 

 Master does not wish to disappoint a lady who has 

 taken the trouble to "walk a puppy " for him by drafting 

 the puppy. So it happens that many worthless young 

 hounds are entered to fox and many promising young 

 hounds are drafted, merely in order to oblige the 

 ladies. I admit that there is a very great difficulty in 

 persuading people to " walk puppies " as a personal 

 favour without any remuneration beyond a prize at 

 the local puppy show, and the greatest credit, and the 

 most sincere thanks of all followers of hounds are due 

 to the sportswomen who "walk puppies." I do not 

 believe, however, in the present fashion of asking a 

 lady to " walk a puppy " for many reasons. I will 

 instance a case which came within my own knowledge. 

 A married lady was asked by the Master to "walk a 

 puppy." She was a keen sportswoman and the wife of 

 a large subscriber to the Hunt, but she was also passion- 

 ately fond and proud of her flower-garden, and knew 

 the damage which a mischievously disposed puppy 

 would do her flowers. So she firmly but politely 

 refused to " walk a puppy," stating her reasons for the 

 refusal, and also offering to give a prize at the local 

 puppy show. The offer was accepted ; but in local 



hunting circles it was said that Mrs. cared more 



for her flowers than she did for the hounds. There is 

 another point, namely, that puppies, which have been 

 under the care of ladies, have been invariably petted, 

 and need much trouble and more than ordinary severity 



