VII. 

 SPRING AND WINTER PASTIMES 



1. 



In April, when public gardens are ablaze with 

 hyacinths and tulips, when park attendants 

 cunningly set out their verdant chairs to lure 

 pennies from the pockets of any suburban deni- 

 zens who may be willing to brave the terrors of 

 a London Sunday, the heart of the average man 

 is informed with the blithe and jocund spirit of 

 the spring. His pulse beats quicker, his blood 

 courses more rapidly through his veins, he makes 

 the bathroom welkin resound with matutinal 

 melody, and it is with a happy smile that he 

 pops into some local druggery to inquire the 

 price of spring tonics. 



Alone among his fellow-men the true British 

 sportsman bemoans his fate. With a melan- 

 choly mien he wanders aimlessly from club to 

 club, perusing the illustrated papers without in- 

 terest, and impatiently awaiting the advent of 

 the next meal. He who is always supposed to 

 have made a speciality of " going out and killing 



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