74 THE SPORT OF KINGS 



it might have been better understood by old- 

 fashioned sportsmen, some of whom, it is needless 

 to say, scarcely look upon the new departure with 

 favour. "For," says Beckford, "sport in fox-hunting 

 cannot be said to begin till October, but in the two 

 preceding months it is either made or marred," and 

 I have seen some as good gallops in October as in 

 January, though the country, of course, is rather 

 blind. 



One reason, doubtless, for the advertising of 

 the cub-hunting fixture is the convenience of the 

 farmers. It would entail an immense amount of 

 labour to send post-cards to every one whose farm 

 was likely to be visited by the hounds, and even 

 then some one might be missed, and farmers natur- 

 ally like to have their stock out of the way when 

 hounds are in the neighbourhood, especially when, 

 as in the present day, hounds are attended by a 

 large field. So for the convenience of the farmers 

 perhaps as much as anything the cub -hunting 

 fixtures are advertised. 



But those who wish to spend their early morn- 

 ings in watching the development of the young 

 hounds, and in getting their horses and themselves 

 fit for the more arduous work of the regular 

 season, should not forget that, even though fixtures 

 are advertised, cub -hunting is, after all, and 

 especially during its earlier stages, a private 

 business, and that they are there as privileged 

 individuals. 



Therefore they should endeavour as much as 

 possible to assist the huntsman and the hunt 

 servants. They should carefully keep out of the 

 narrow rides in wood and covert, for if a hound 

 comes past them in a hurry it is quite likely that 



