SPORT IN 1881-82. 113 



the fair sex, and if it is allowable to hazard a guess at 

 the initials, we should be inclined to think they stand for 

 " Merry Maid." It is pretty obvious that this fair con- 

 tributor to the Field and the Staffordshire Advertiser 

 was young, and in high spirits, and thoroughly enjoyed 

 the sport ; and the present writer offers no apology for 

 reprinting such graphic and lively accounts of the doings 

 of our hounds. On the contrary, he feels confident that 

 his readers will think, with him, that w^e owe a debt of 

 gratitude to " M. M. " and " 0. T." * for having given us 

 such cheery and pleasant accounts of sport in the North 

 Stafford country. 



From Dickins's diary : — 



" Novemher DOth, 1881. Woore. — Found in Canridden, but fox got to ground. 

 Found a second in Three Brooks. Han him to Buerton, on to near Audlem, to 

 the left jiast Golling's Rough, over Betton, on over the Great Western Eailway, 

 and killed him near the Styche Brook. One hour and thirty minutes. 



^'■December 1th, 1881. Norton-in- Hales. — Drew Bellaport; found. Ran 

 back to Norton, to ground. Then drew Buerton Gorse ; found. Ran at a fast 

 pace, as if for Canridden, turned to left past Buerton village and Highfield Gorse, 

 and into Golling's Rough without a check, and hunted him back to Buerton, to 

 ground in a drumble ; dead beat. Found a third fox in Canridden. Ran three 

 rings by Bellaport, and killed in a cowshed." 



The writer's diary entry of the day's sport is as follows : — • 



"Hunting at Norton-in-Hales. Rode Lord Staflford's Alice Grey. Good 

 sport. Wei' can-ied. Found first fox at Bellaport. Short ran to ground. 

 Second at Buerton Gorse, Capital fast gallop to Golling's Rough, then to 

 ground near Canridden. Third fox at Canridden; to Bellaport. Left them 

 running to catch train." 



^^ December Idth, 1881. Chesicardine. — Found in the covert near the Gorse. 

 Ran to Chipnall Wood, and up to Bishop's Wood, one turn round and over to 

 Burnt Wood, through to Broughton Birches and to Bromley, through the Three 

 Coppices and on to Clayholders and Standon Hall. Stopped hounds at dark. 

 Two hours and ten minutes." 



From the Staffordshire Advertiser, February 25th, 1882 : 



" On Monday these hounds had a day's sport which deserves record. The 

 meet was at Sandon village, and the small but select band of followers who 

 preferred their own pack to the charms of the Meynell at Chartley were rewarded 

 by a brilliant day. The weather was cloudy and cold, with a strong westerly 

 wind. The first draw was Sandon Big Wood, where a likely customer was found, 

 and went away immediately; but being soon headed, a promising start was 



* See pp. 120 and 127. There can be no doubt that "M, M." and "O. T." are 

 one and the same correspondent. 



I 



