Introductory 



cheap rate ; all these things combined to place the earlier 

 years of the twentieth century in a class by themselves. 

 There were pinpricks, already indicated at the beginning of 

 this chapter. In some counties there was too much barbed 

 wire ; in all counties there were too many political meetings. 

 But it is just possible that to enjoy a good run in spite of these 

 things almost added to the zest of Fox-hunting. In reading 

 a Limehouse speech about ourselves, do not let us forget 

 how Joseph Surface reminded Lady Teazle that if one is to 

 be the centre of a scandal there is no consolation like having 

 done something to deserve it. But what of their sport ? 

 Before they left school, Parliament, while Mr. Gladstone was 

 Prime Minister, had passed the Ground Game Act. It has 

 never been quite certain what was the real object of the 

 promoters of this measure. Was it an attempt to increase 

 agricultural production by decreasing the head of ground 

 game } Or was it an attack upon the patriarchal system ? 

 We are concerned with the results rather than motives. 

 In so far as this Act has operated to diminish ground game 

 it has been an unmitigated blessing to Fox-hunting. There 

 is no doubt that the matter of riot gave our ancestors a very 

 great deal of trouble. Beckford is full of it. Even the 

 great Lord Henry Bentinck is much concerned to give 

 minute directions as to how to wean his young Hounds from 

 hares. Of course. Hounds may through generations of 

 breeding have become steadier. At the same time they 

 have less temptation in the way of riot. And not only do 

 hares and rabbits cause Hounds to stare about instead of 



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