26 THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



arrangements consequent on tlie deatli of their employer. In order tliat they 

 should not suffer by a general cessation of employment, the manager received 

 instructions to keep the establishments open as usual, except on the day of the 

 funeral." 



Mr. Davenport was well known in the hunting world 

 as a fine judge of hounds. He knew how to breed them 

 for the well-wooded country he had to hunt, and knew 

 that they required stamina and tongue, with plenty of 

 bone, and good legs and feet, to hunt a fox to death. His 

 old huntsman, Joe Maiden, knew as much as his master, if 

 not more, on all these points, for he had had many years' 

 experience with the Cheshire as huntsman, and what these 

 two did not know about hunting or breeding hounds may 

 be said to be not worth knowing. 



Many noted masters of hounds were in the habit of 

 visiting Maer to have a day at the kennels, and see the 

 hounds on the flags, ready to give and acquire valuable 

 information in the art of breedingf useful ones. Amono-st 

 them were Sir Harry Main waring. Sir J. F. Boughey, Lord 

 Hill, Mr. H. Meynell-Ingram, the Duke of Rutland and 

 W. Goodall, his huntsman. To show sport and kill foxes, 

 Mr. Davenport believed in hunting with dogs and bitches 

 mixed, and not as in the present day, with the dogs and 

 bitches separate ; the idea being that on a bad scenting 

 day the bitches help the dogs, and on a good one the dogs 

 keep the ladies in check, as they are not so flashy. Of 

 course in open countries this may be somewhat different, 

 but we are writing now of this country. No one who 

 ever heard it could forget the ringing music of old Joe 

 Maiden's voice. Such a one is rarely heard with any 

 pack. One's blood would stir as it cheered a first challenge 

 with, " Have at him there, my lads ; hark together ! " and 

 then the blast of his horn to bring all his hounds up. 

 Equally so the Master when he hunted hounds, his sharp, 

 clear voice would ring out, followed by the well-known 

 notes on his horn, and put life and vigour into every 

 hound who loved him so. Some few — but, alas ! how few! 

 — can remember all this ; then, as the cry grew fuller and 



