THE POPULARITY OF THE CHASE AT THE PRESENT TIME. 6 



his stud of hunters at Market Harborough, and yet find time to 

 attend to an amount of business such as his predecessors never 

 dreamt of. This spirit is not new ; although dormant, it was as 

 keen in our ancestors as ourselves, but the means for its deve- 

 lopment were wanting. The Londoner of old was forced to 

 content himself with seeing a trotting-match, cock-fight, prize- 

 fight, or ratting-match, not to mention an occasional bull-bait, 

 most of which were very barbarous amusements, no doubt ; but 

 what was to be done — the thirst for excitement was there, and 

 must in some manner be allayed. We live in happier times — 

 the wealthier can hunt and shoot ; for the man of smaller means 

 there are fishing, cricket, and athletics. As a natural conse- 

 quence, the old barbarous amusements have fallen into disre- 

 pute, and many of them are now contrary to law. But it is a 

 fact worth bearing in mind that substitutes, and good ones, have 

 been found for them. Let those who would civilize us out of 

 hunting and shooting first consider where the pent-up energies 

 that now find vent in them are to be turned, or results may 

 happen on which they have little calculated. 



Captain Shakespeare, in his " Wild Sports of India," says, — 

 " Depend upon it that the deep-set eye, thin nostril, and arched 

 brow are not to be baulked of excitement. The possessors of 

 these — I may say gifts — live and are formed for excitement. 

 If not satiated in one way, and that an innocent, manly, and 

 useful one, your boys may take to the gaming-table, or to an 

 excess of feasting, rioting, or debauchery. Excitement they must 

 have or die. Let them, therefore, become bold riders, cunning 

 hunters, riflemen of the woods. Inure them to toil while they 

 are young, and a green old age shall reward them for their 

 choice, and they shall be thankful to you for your encourage- 

 ment and advice." 



These words may justly be applied to nine out of every ten 

 Englishmen, and they are worth weighty consideration. I must 

 excuse myself for turning aside, as it were, a little from my 

 legitimate subject, the present popularity of the chase, but of 



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