290 THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



Mv. R. P. Cooper, who responded for the judges of hunters, said he found it 

 (lifiicult to get away from the stereotyped expression that they had done their 

 best, and he lioped they had pleased everybody. No assurance was necessary 

 that they had done their best according to their lights, but as to pleasing every- 

 body, that, he thought, was an impossibility. He would ask those who were not 

 pleased tc remember that the judges were absolutely free from bias or influence, 

 and that they had opportunities of noting the various points of the animals that 

 those outside the ring had not. He with his colleague could sincerely con- 

 oratulate them on the exhibits that had been before them. The best thanks of 

 all breeders of horses in that neighbourhood were due to the Duke of Sutherland 

 for providing them with so excellent a sire. He had noted the remarks of the 

 Chairman with regard to the importance of local societies. It was far from his 

 mind to say anytliing against the Eoyal or the larger societies, but he believed 

 that from the educational point of view a society like that did far more good. 

 They had a better opportunity of judging the points of the animals, and he hoped 

 that the younger generation especially would discuss these points until the show 

 came round again. He was sure they all had a great deal to learn. England 

 was in the forefront now, but Germany and France were making rapid strides^ 

 and received help from their Governments which we did not receive. In this 

 country horse-breeding was left to private enterprise. Therefore they could 

 not do better than turn their attention to the various points of the animals at 

 that and other shows. (Applause.) 



Mr. Radford Norcop, in proposing " The Tenant Farmers of the North 

 Staffordshire Hunt, and Success to Agriculture," said he could say, without 

 using the language of flattery, that there were very few Hunts that had so good 

 a body of tenant farmers as those connected with the North Staffordshire Hunt. 

 All of them took very great interest in fox-hunting. In addition to that, it 

 would be very difficult to meet with a more practical body of agriculturists. 

 With regard to the season prospects, he certainly could not remember for a great 

 number of years when the crops had been so magnificent as at the present time. 

 With good weather, they would have a grand harvest. (Applause.) 



Mr. J. E. Bourne, who was called upon to respond, said that in twenty-five 

 years he had never known such a changeable season, but as it was their crops 

 had almost grown out of the fields. They could now only hope for fine weather 

 to gather them. (Applause.) 



Mr. E. Simpson, who also responded, agreed that if they had good weather 

 to secure their crops, they would have a bountiful harvest. 



Mr. F. J. Harrison proposed the health of the Chairman, and hoped they 

 would see him for many years to come with them in the hunting-field. As 

 chairman of the Hunt Committee, Mr. Philips had been of the greatest service, 

 and his advice was at all times most valuable. 



The toast was drunk with musical honours, and Mr. Philips, who mentionedl 

 that he had been a member of the Hunt since 1847, having expressed his 

 acknowledgments, the proceedings at the luncheon terminated. 



While the writer is engaged on the last pages of his 

 manuscript in the early autumn of this year (1902), he is 

 reminded that cub-hunting has just begun, and that 

 he has scarcely said a word about that important, though 

 perhaps not very interesting, department of fox-hunting ; 



