182 A COUNTRY READER. 



and the loss to the country districts in con- 

 sequence would be enormous. 



A pack of fox-hounds enriches and makes 

 more lively any district where it is established. 

 It fills houses ; it employs labour ; it causes 

 large sums of 'money to be spent in country 

 districts that would otherwise be spent in the town 

 or abroad. The farmers sell hay, straw, oats, to 

 the members of the hunt. Horses are bred, 

 reared, and sold as trained hunters by farmers, 

 and this in many cases helps considerably 

 towards their rent. 



Fox-hunting brings all classes of agriculturalists 

 together on terms of greater equality than any 

 other sport does. Pure merit is recognised the 

 merit, namely, of riding straight when necessary, 

 the merit of pluck and judgment, of sparing 

 your horse when necessary, of not riding over 

 growing crops, or leaving gates open, not jump- 

 ing and breaking down fences when the dogs are 

 not running, and, when they are running, doing 

 as little damage as possible. 



All this requires skilful horsemanship, judg- 

 ment, control, good temper, and knowledge. 



Any man that possesses these characteristics, so 

 essential to a good rider to hounds, is looked upon 

 with respect and admiration by the rest of the 

 hunt whatever his social position may be. 



And any man, who is popular with all classes 



