304 



CHAPTER XVI. 

 HUNTING. 



When ladies began to hunt — Hunt subscriptions — In the field — Cub-hunting — 

 Blood — Coming home — Rider's Physical Condition — Tips and thanks — The 

 Horn — Hirelings — Farmers and Wire — Pilots — Propriety — Falls. 



WPIEN LADIES BEGAN TO HUNT. 



Although the hunting field is nowadays graced by 

 the presence of many good horsewomen who ride 

 w^ell to hounds and are capable of taking care of 

 themselves and their mounts, it is only within about 

 the last seventy years that ladies have ridden across 

 country. Mr. Elliott in his book Fifty years of Fox- 

 Jmnting tells us that in 1838 '' Mrs. Lorraine Smith 

 and her two daughters, with Miss Stone from Blis- 

 worth, were the only ladies who hunted then. The 

 Misses Lorraine Smith rode in scarlet bodices and 

 grey skirts. The improved side-saddle was not then 

 invented to enable a lady to ride over fences." 

 We learn from the same writer that in 1841 ''a 

 lady named Miss Nellie Holmes was out, topping 

 the fences like a bird to the admiration of all ; and 



