PUPPY-WALKING AND THE HOUND-SHOW. 



259 



brought to a conclusion with a garden-party in the beautiful 

 grounds of Bramham Park. A more enjoyable way of 

 spending a summer afternoon could not well be imagined. 

 Sportsmen met each other who had not come together since 

 the lengthening days and April sun had brought about the 

 summer of their discontent, and indulged in reminiscences 

 of past sport, and anticipations of the forthcoming season. 



A few extracts from Mr. Fox's speeches on the occasion 

 of these reunions at Bramham Park may prove interesting. 



The first is from the speech which was delivered on 

 August 20th, 1886: — 



'Once again,' said Mr. Fox, ' I am delighted to welcome 

 ' you here. Once again I have the pleasure of thanking you 

 ' for the manner in which you have supported my foxhounds 

 ' and me. There are puppy walkers and puppy walkers. 

 ' There is the man who gives his hound good exercise, and 

 ' who takes him amongst his sheep, and whose wife won't 

 ' grudge to give him a drink of milk. (Laughter and cheers.) 

 ' Then there is the puppy walker who shoves his puppy in 

 ' the pig-stye, and after a few weeks sends him back, and 

 'says, "He's eat a sheep ! " (Laughter.) I am certain there 

 'is no such man in this tent. (Hear, hear.) Consider what 

 ' capital fellows puppy walkers are. There are a great many 

 ' gentlemen here who are not puppy walkers, and who want 

 ' to get their names up as jolly good fellows and puppy 

 ' walkers. I don't see why people should not do so. A 

 ' foxhound gives an air of respectability to the place. Ladies 

 ' are fond of walking puppies ; they like them. It is mar- 

 ' vellous how foxhunting has increased of late years. There 

 ' is more interest taken in it, and Til tell you why. Where 

 ' twenty years ago one lady hunted, twenty hunt now, and 

 'where they go the men will follow them.' (Laughter.) 



The next extracts I give are from the speech made in 

 the Jubilee year, when some words of wisdom fell from the 



