40 PRACTICAL HINTS FOR HUNTING NOVICES. 



and often shrink after they have been cleaned ; but 

 knitted gloves are very comfortable in cold weather, 

 though a horse which pulls will wear them into holes in 

 an hour or two. I have had this glove question on my 

 mind nearly all my life, because when I was a very small 

 boy, riding a pony to covert, my father noticed that I 

 had no gloves, and instantly sent me home again to 

 get them. In consequence, I never found hounds until 

 two o'clock, when the best sport of the day was over. 

 That is the sort of lesson which one remembers, and 

 I have always been particular about gloves since then. 



And now as to the costume of the novice of riper 

 years, a matter which is really of greater importance 

 than the general turn-out of the boy or girl, because 

 what will be overlooked in children may easily be made 

 the subject of unfavourable comment where a man 

 or w^oman is concerned. And, with regard to ladies 

 who begin to hunt, much that has already been written 

 concerning children also holds good, more especially the 

 remarks which treated of neatness of hat and head, 

 and tidiness of person. And I am not going to commit 

 myself on the subject of ladies' hunting clothes. Fashion 

 in habits changes every year, probably is changed by 

 enterprising tailors, who do not care for one particular 

 style to remain long in vogue. With that I have 

 nothing to do, but advise all ladies who are about to 

 hunt to go to a tailor and to a hatter who are accustomed 

 to make hunting clothes and hats. The tailor who has 

 no trade of this description should be avoided, no matter 

 how good he may be in the " coat and skirt " line of 

 business, for he is almost certain to be behind the times, 

 and might turn his customer out in the hunting costume 



