OPENING DAY, 1888-89. 157 



this, but perhaps it miglit be done more than at present. Moreover, the fact of 



it being known that hunting men were making a point of purchasing their forage 



from the tenant farmers over whose lands thej' rode, would tend greatly to the 



popularity, and consequently to the successful carrying on, of the Hunt. 



" Yours faithfully, 



" Richard Boote, \ ^^ „ . . 



,, , a r. t Hon. Secretanes. 



" Alexander Simpson, J 



" February 10th, 1888." 



The season of 1888-89 appears to have, been rather 

 below the usual average, both in the matter of good sport 

 and in record of kills, and as usual there was a great deal 

 of interruption from frost. The opening .day (November 

 5th) is thus recorded in the Staffordshire Advertiser of 

 November 10th, 1888 : 



NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



Woore, November 5th. — Such was the fixture selected by our popular 

 Master for the opening day of these hounds, and there is no place so well 

 entitled to have the honour of the first meet of the season, for probably no other 

 fixture within the limits of the Hunt can claim anything like such an ancient 

 and historical sporting pedigree as " The Woore Country." What other fixture 

 in all the Hunt can lay claim to the thorough-hearted hospitality you meet with 

 at the hands of the highly esteemed lady and her family residing at the Manor? 

 Twenty years ago country gentlemen were pleased to have the meets at their 

 houses; but "a change has come o'er the spirit of the dream "in fox-hunting, as 

 in all other things. This is not to be regretted so far as the inner man is con- 

 cerned, as .10 one feels inclined to eat two breakfasts within an hour or so ; but 

 its discontinuance is to be regretted, as it gives an importance and encourage- 

 ment to the sport by the master of the house entertaining the Hunt, and it has 

 its beneficial influence on his dependents and neighbours, which is altogether 

 wanting when the meets are at lane ends and wayside inns. We also lose the 

 countenance given to the Hunt by the bright eyes and fair faces of the female 

 element of the country house, which is pleasant to all hunting men. The opening 

 day in some respects has its special enjoyments ; it is the day you hope to meet 

 many friends you have not seen perhaps since the close of the last season, who 

 have been scattered in all parts of the world in pursuit of health and enjoyment 

 ^'in pastures new," and it is delightful to meet them again on the happy 

 English hunting-ground. It was pleasant to us all to see our respected Master 

 present and looking in good health ; long may he reign over us as our M.F.H. 

 Dickins, wth his two wiry lieutenants, Boxall and Beamer, looked smart and 

 well in their bran-new scarlet, and fit for work in every respect. This might be 

 said of the lively pack. Judging from appearances, men, horses, and hounds will 

 give a good account of themselves in the coming season if they only have the 

 chance. The first draw was Canridden, which proved blank, and no wonder, 

 considering the previous wild night. The order was then the Three Brooks. 

 This at first seemed doubtful, as the hounds were being drawn out of the covert, 

 when a hesitating whimper was heard that a wily one might be near. This 



