IMAGINARY GRIEVANCES 301 



horses from the farmers. To do the hunting man 

 justice he is rarely found wanting in these respects, 

 though, of course, there are some ill-conditioned 

 men who evade their responsibilities, just as there 

 are some ill-conditioned farmers who will take all 

 and return nothing. For example, not very long 

 ago a well-known M.F.H., who is always careful 

 to do everything in his power to promote the wel- 

 fare of the farmers within the limits of his hunt, 

 and who is a liberal subscriber to everything in 

 which farmers have a substantial interest, chanced 

 to be a judge at an agricultural show. He gave 

 his decision in one class against a farmer resident 

 in his own hunt. That the decision was a right 

 one was subsequently proved over and over again, 

 and many good judges wondered why the farmer 

 in question should have shown such a moderate 

 animal. But though a goose, and a bad one at 

 that, in reality, the animal was a veritable swan in 

 its owner's eyes, and he delivered himself of the 

 following speech : " I've always preserved foxes for 

 him," said he, " but when he comes to my covert 

 next season he'll draw it blank." And so the 

 event proved. The farmer had an imaginary 

 grievance, and he vented his wrath on the head 

 of the unfortunate M.F.H., who was totally 

 unconscious of offence, and who had officiated 

 as judge at some inconvenience to please the 

 farmers who formed the bulk of the committee 

 of the Agricultural Society. 



This is doubtless an extreme case, but that 

 imaginary grievances do exist in the minds of 

 farmers is but too true. I came across one only 

 the other day as I was returning from hunting. 

 My companion was a farmer, a capital sportsman, 



