SEASON 1873-74. 



KIRBY GATE. 



HE Quorn at Kirb}^ Gate. 

 — Reader, if it lias never 

 been your lot to attend at 

 Kirb}^ Gate on the first 

 Monda}' in November, you 

 have doubtless (for of course 

 you are a keen hunting man 

 or Avoman) your own open- 

 ing meet. And as summer 

 passed by, and autumn was 

 ushered in, imagination has 

 assisted memory in dail}' 

 piling on brighter and 

 brighter colours, till the 

 pictm-e stood out a glowing 

 harvest scene of anticipa- 

 tion. Not that the first 

 day of the season is often 

 signalised by great success of venery ; on the contrary, at least 

 as far as Kirby Gate is concerned, the sport itself often does 

 not rise above mediocrity. But it is as a reunion of cheer}' 

 companionship, a renewal of happy association, and a glad 

 ceremony to usher in the coming season, that it is chiefl}^ 

 looked forward to. I can think of no exact parallel with which 

 to compare it ; but it is as much to Melton as the Carnival is 

 to Rome, more than the Commemoration is to Oxford. No 

 class is brought into more intimate and daily contact than men 

 hunting in the same district, unless it be men serving in the 





