CHAPTER XXII 



TWO OR THREE POINTS OF ETIQUETTE 



It is not a little singular that points of etiquette 

 in the hunting field have constantly to be brought 

 to the notice of those who "join the glad throng 

 which rides laughing along," and that men — ay, 

 and women too — are guilty of rudeness in the 

 hunting field who are models of courtesy and 

 consideration for others in the ordinary avocations 

 of life. It is that question of consideration for 

 others which underlies all courtesy, and in the 

 hunting field consideration for others is absolutely 

 necessary for the enjoyment of sport. Now in 

 great things, in the more important matters which 

 appertain to hunting, I have no hesitation in 

 saying that this consideration is conspicuous, but 

 in minor matters it is frequently conspicuous by 

 its absence. 



Let us take a few cases of what is due to the 

 Master. In the first place, it is bad form for the 

 man who hunts regularly to hunt in mufti. I do 

 not mean that he is always to be en grand tenue, 

 but he should not go out hunting regularly in 

 what has been termed ratcatcher costume. It is 

 certainly a slight to the Master and also to the 

 rest of the field. The excuse of the man who 

 goes out regularly in mufti is that it is more com- 



