SEASON 1872-73. 



TWO GOOD DAYS WITH THE ATHEBSTONE. 



BRIGHT sunny morning 

 such as Friday, November 

 29tli, when the Atherstone 

 met at Newnham, augured 

 not well for sport according 

 to old-fashioned notions. 

 But the last two seasons 

 had completely cut to pieces 

 all the dicta and wise saws 

 that our progenitors stored 

 up for us ; and taught us 

 that, given the hypothesis 

 of a moist earth and a warm 

 one, all other conditions 

 may stand over. There 

 was always a scent last 

 winter ; and as wet in- 

 creased, hounds ran faster 

 and with greater certainty — no matter whether the sun shone, 

 the wind blew, or the glass went down. So it is at present ; 

 and for once hunting men are content, fearful only of a change. 

 On the day of which I am speaking the barometer pointed to 

 all sorts of dreadful things and threats unutterable ; for it had 

 gone beyond its vocabulary, cuhninating in Much Rain and 

 Stormy. We looked at the cloudless smiling heaven, sniffed 

 the balmy air, looked again at the glass, and finally came to 

 the conclusion that in this, as in other things, extremes some- 



