Vlll PREFACE. 



In the twenty past years of a varied existence at home 

 and abroad, it has been my fortune to see sport of most 

 kinds, but only to arrive with fervent sincerity at the con- 

 clusion framed by the honoured dead, whose portrait will 

 be found in this volume — 



" I 've played the game all round, 

 But I'm free to confess that the best of my fun 

 I owe it to horse and hound." 



True and hearty thanks do I offer to my fellow sports- 

 men in Leicestershire, who during all these years have 

 never cavilled at aught I wrote, have never resented such 

 use as, in my capacity as correspondent of the Field, I 

 was ofttimes obliged to make of their names ; but who 

 have invariably given tacit encouragement, and if needed, 

 ready help, to one of their number whose first aim they 

 knew was to see sport, his next to reproduce it as truly 

 as he could. 



I must further be allowed to express my gratitude to 

 my old and consistent friends the Proprietors and the 

 Editor of the Field, for allowing me to republish material 

 that was originally furnished for them, while, on my good 

 fortune in securing the able and spirited co-operation of 

 Mr. Sturgess, I have every reason to congratulate my 

 readers as much as myself. 



Leicestershire will, I see no reason to doubt, last at 

 least our time ; and may, perhaps, prove as fruitful of en- 

 joyment to a next generation. But railway competition 

 and bricks-and-morta.r will, likely enough, bring its green 

 existence to a too early end, and then these jottings and 

 these sketches will help to keep alive the memory of a 

 happy temporis acti. 



E. PENNELL-ELMHIRST. 



