THE FAEMEES' BOOK 179 



Extract 



Any Master who wishes to enlarge the Kennels can buy the piece 

 of land next door for £40 from Key (builder).— K. Walker. 



The next entry ^ shows how the cementing had to be done again, 

 after ten years, and how the tenure of the Kennels was placed on a 

 more secure footing. These notes cannot fail to bring home to one 

 how much of his sport the private beagler owes to the hberality and 

 public spirit of the successive Masters of T.F.B., especially such as 

 have added to the permanent property or capital of the hunt. Such 

 benefactions are one thing ; the wisdom of a Master drawing freely 

 on his own pocket for current expenses quite another. The latter is 

 open to question however ungrudgingly we may admire his munifi- 

 cence. Such a proceeding tends to make the position difficult for 

 successors of less ample means ; also to pauperise the subscriber if his 

 sport be provided too much below cost price. There should, of course, 

 be some deficit, but it should not exceed what may be regarded as a 

 fair subscription for a Master to pay, in proportion to the fun he 

 gets out of being Master. 



Having secured Kennels and a pack of hounds, the next institution 

 of importance is the Kennelman. In which matter records go no 

 further back than the first appearance of " Bob " (Mr. Eobert Floate). 

 The following are the memoranda : 



Kennelman. — I brought my own, which I think much better 

 than employing a Cambridge man. He lodged with Mrs. AVarde, 

 82 Histon Eoad. Great care should be taken to procure a room 

 close to the Kennels, as, if anything be wrong, he can see from the 

 window. Bob had 18s. a week, and with that found everything. 

 He had also all per(|uisites, such as manure, bones, etc. 



This note, copied by J. S. Carr-Elhson, is evidently by the Eev. 

 E. a. Milne. Ut infra. 



]\Iilne brouglit Eobert Floate with him from Storrington in 1883, 

 and he has also so far been taken on by each succeeding Master. 

 He knows his business, is very willing, and a good servant if kept 

 up to his work. ^g.g^^^^ j_ g_ caer-Ellison. 



1 Vide Chapter IX. 



