86 THE SPORT OF KINGS 



Masters of Hounds, so unless a man belongs to a 

 country where caps are the fashion he should con- 

 form to the wishes of the Master, and wear a high 

 hat. And this brings me to another part of the 

 subject — the wearing of mufti. There is no 

 doubt that mufti is exceedingly comfortable, and 

 the brown cords and black boots make a very 

 serviceable dress. But a man should no more 

 think of hunting in mufti after the regular season 

 sets in than he should think of going out to dinner 

 in a suit of dittoes. It is a mark of respect to the 

 Master to come out in the orthodox scarlet or 

 black coat and top-boots, the breeches being either 

 white or drab as is the fashion of the hunt with 

 which a man casts in his lot. One thing, how- 

 ever, is certain, white breeches are never wrong. 

 Leathers are not worn nearly so much as they 

 were at one time, and though they certainly are 

 the smartest of anything in appearance, and are 

 comfortable enough to ride in in fine weather, 

 they are miserable wear when wet through, and 

 are conducive on these occasions to severe colds, 

 rheumatism, and other ills. 



It may be said with some degree of truth that 

 in the present day hunting men dress more with a 

 view to comfort than smartness, though doubtless 

 some young friends of mine will give a depre- 

 catory shrug to their shoulders when they read 

 this. Still, I think I shall have no difficulty in 

 maintaining my position. The roomy broad- 

 skirted frock-coat, though convenient and com- 

 fortable, and eminently the right thing in the right 

 place, especially on a wet day, cannot by any 

 stretch of the imagination be called smart, neither 

 can the roomy nether garments which are the 



