CHAPTER LIX 



PETERBOROUGH 



Standing out as it does, a beacon to show that 

 another hunting season will quickly be with us, 

 Peterborough Hound Show is heartily welcomed 

 by fox-hunters from John o' Groat's to Land's 

 End. Epsom and Ascot are over, in early 

 countries the corn is, or ought to be, in full ear, 

 and our eyes, which have been wearying for the 

 sight since the parching winds of March and the 

 more or less sunny skies of April brought the last 

 season to an end, are gladdened by a glimpse of 

 red coats and the hounds which we love to follow. 

 Yes, there is no doubt about it, Peterborough 

 Hound Show is the summer festival of the hunting 

 man. Talk not to him when you meet him on 

 the flags at Peterborough of the weights for the 

 next handicap or the delights of the meetings 

 behind the Ditch. All his thoughts are now con- 

 centrated on the progeny of Warwickshire Harper, 

 or Tuscan, and on the comparative merits of the 

 young hounds which are giving the judges so much 

 trouble before they can arrive at a decision. 



It is, to my thinking, a very satisfactory sign 

 that year after year Peterborough Show increases 

 in popularity. There are old-fashioned people 

 who exclaim against hound shows and everything 



