Red Room and Other Chat 33 



that hunting was one of the important industries of 

 Hamilton. Though said in jest, his remark contains 

 considerable truth, for the village has reaped some 

 advantage, as will be shown. 



Speaking of hunting as an industry, many will be 

 surprised to learn that according to Badminton there 

 are altogether over three hundred packs of staghounds, 

 foxhounds, harriers, and beagles in England, Ireland, 

 and Scotland. A few years ago a Boston daily paper 

 appeared with an article showing an investment in 

 England alone of about twenty millions of dollars for 

 these sports. Perhaps in this country an estimate of 

 one million dollars for hunting and polo is not an ex- 

 cessive amount. This includes the various Club pro- 

 perties connected with the sports. Golf threatens to 

 become a rival of the bicycle industry in the amount 

 of capital invested. Every village and town feels the 

 necessity of a golf-course in the pursuit of happiness. 



When country people become aware of these facts 

 we may expect rival villages to compete for the set- 

 tlement of Hunt Clubs in their midst. In the com- 

 petition we are prepared to hear that the selectmen 

 offer a house free of rent for the Master. As in the 

 case of other industries, of course the Club property 

 will be exempt from taxes for five years. Restric- 

 tions on barbed wire might be made by the select- 

 men. Negotiators for Hunt Club sites must not be 

 deceived by popular sentiment against electric rail- 



