234 WHIP AND SPUE. 



regular fox-hunting; and to make an application 

 of their example, we could well afford to give over 

 many of our fertile fields to ruthless destruction, 

 and many of our fertile hours to the most sense- 

 less sport, if it would only replace our dyspeptic 

 stomachs, sallow cheeks, stooping shoulders, and 

 restless eagerness with the hale and hearty and 

 easy-going life and energy of our English cousins. 

 Hardly enough women hunt in England to con- 

 stitute an example; but those who do are such 

 models of health and freshness as to make one 

 wish that more women had the benefit of such 

 amusement both there and here. It is very com- 

 mon to see men of over sixty following the hounds 

 in the very elite of the field ; they seem still in the 

 vigor of youth. At seventy many are yet regular 

 at their work ; and it is hardly remarkable when 

 one finally hangs up his red coat only at the age 

 of eighty. Considering all this, it almost becomes 

 a question whether, patriotism to the contrary 

 notwithstanding, it would not be a good thing for 

 a prosperous American, instead of settling down at 

 the age of forty-five to a special partnership and a 



