382 THE BEST OF THE FUN 



" No rain for six weeks," they told me — an assertion that 

 the dusty roads indorsed, and the next morning's walk fully 

 emphasised. Altogether, hunting seemed beyond the pale 

 of possibility. But the meets had been advertised : and 

 the Tipperary stop not for trifles. 



On Tuesday I was driven across the country that Mr. 

 Burke has more recently included in the Tipperary Re- 

 public. The Charity Bazaar at Curraghmore was the 

 occasion calling together all who live in the counties of 

 Tipperary and Waterford. That so time-honoured and 

 magnificent an establishment as Curraghmore should ever 

 have been compelled to close kennels and stables (to that 

 date among the proudest institutions of the country) is a 

 testimony to the evil power of the Land League. That 

 Lord and Lady Waterford should, even after this, care 

 to do their utmost for their poorer neighbours is testimony 

 indeed to their own large-heartedness. Upon the sad fact 

 that these two, in our time active leaders of the chase in 

 England as in Ireland, should both be more or less re- 

 stricted to their chairs, while superintending the arrange- 

 ments of the/(f/^, I do not allow myself to dwell. Suffice 

 it to add that, through their exertions, aided by a staff of 

 volunteers, fair, able, and persuasive to a degree, the local 

 hospital on this occasion profited to the extent of some 

 hundreds of pounds, while the neighbourhood spent its 

 afternoon and its money joyously. 



Speaking of the Curraghmore country — now gathered 

 to the Tipperary— I am led by the best possible authority 

 to understand that it is exceptionally good scenting-ground. 

 If, as I presume is correct, it in this respect compares 

 favourably with Tipperary, it certainly deserves the en- 

 comium, for, as far as repeated experience may entitle me 

 to speak, I look upon Tipperary as the most consistent 

 scenting-ground I have ever known. Hounds can almost 

 invariably run well over it ; and a really bad scenting-day 

 I have yet to encounter. Even last week, when the turf 

 was hard and dewless, and the tillage like dust and ashes, 

 hounds were able to drive hard, and turn readily with their 

 fox. 



On Wednesday, October 24, the meet being at D'Arcy's 



