TOWN SPORTSMEN 197 



To their faults a little blind 

 And to their virtues ever kind, 



for they help to foster a healthy public opinion in 

 favour of fox-hunting ; they keep alive the spirit of 

 sport, which is one of the most cherished character- 

 istics of our race ; and they help to develop " the 

 hardihood and resource which go far to the making 

 of the national character." The luxurious life of 

 cities would have a more deadly effect upon the 

 national character than it has were it not for the 

 love of sport which makes men sacrifice their ease 

 for the sake of a day's hunting, and were it only 

 for this reason we should all of us respect our 

 town sportsmen. 



