204 THE TRINITY FOOT BEAGLES 



lessened by the fact that regular beaglers tend to become a family 

 party on very intimate terms, so that a new-comer who turns up 

 without introductions may very easily feel "out of it" and be 

 discouraged, and the more desirable the recruit, the more likely he 

 is to feel thus. On this delicate matter, I feel the more bound to 

 speak in that I know that a good many possible subscribers are lost 

 in this way. 



Now what is to be done ? The evil hits the Master's pocket 

 fairly hard, and yet he himself can do little, as in the field he and 

 his whippers-in have their work to do, and the situation is made no 

 easier by the fact that many followers, like Charles Lamb at his 

 office, arrive late and go away early. Much can be done by the 

 Master shaking hands with new-comers at the beginning of each 

 term, and saying, " Pleased to meet you," or words to that effect. 

 Farmers are not the only human beings who value the good opinion 

 of the " quoloty," and appreciate these cheap yet valued attentions ; 

 and his greeting should be followed up, though not too effusively. 

 But how ? I answer that there is the T.F.B Club, which is in fact if 

 not in name a committee, in that the members frequently meet and 

 " talk shop." Of these eight three are non-official and do not carry 

 whips. These members should be keen and patriotically disposed to 

 T.F.B., and should quietly and tactfully make themselves agreeable 

 to the field. It might be an improvement if the secretary were not 

 a Whip, as then he could the better know his field. 



Perhaps, but this is going farther, members of the T.F.B. Club 

 who are not Whips should wear the Club uniform with a different 

 head-gear, and that all members of the Club should bear some small 

 share in guaranteeing expenses, instead of letting the whole risk 

 fall on the Master. This would be fairer on the Master, and would 

 give them all an interest in securing a good body of supporters. 



I feel that in saying so much at my age I have been greatly 

 daring, and also realise that a freshman does not expect much, and 

 can be left to find his own level. But all men do not start beagling 

 as freshmen, and in making a new start in a new world want to be 

 helped over their first shyness — it is nothing else. The matter is 

 one which needs brains and care and some definite policy, mere 



