1880— SI. A SAMPLE OF THE SEASON. 345 



was just beyond poor Eeynard's strength. He could go no 

 furtlier than one of the little Burley Spinneys, and there they 

 killed him — one hour and forty minutes from the find, and as 

 severe and good a run as ever did credit to hounds and 

 country. As I have before said, the point was the least 

 remarkable part of the run : but take Owston Village and 

 Burley Spinney to furnish a diameter, and you will find that 

 the ring was not much less than seven miles across. And the 

 very fact of the line being curved allowed a much larger propor- 

 tion of the field to see the run — or much of it — than if it had 

 been absolutely straight. 



I must not conclude without expressing one word of heartfelt 

 sorrow for the sad and sudden death of Mr. Herbert Flower, 

 Avhich took place last week. As a friend he endeared himself 

 to all who knew him ; as a comrade in the hunting field he was 

 always cheerful, pleasant, and consistent ; and a wide circle 

 deeply lament his untimel}' end. 



A SAMPLE OF THE SEASOX. 



January '29th. 



Hidden mider deep ridges of drifted snow, there is little 

 to denote the existence of the grass-country beyond its few 

 trees and the tops of its highest hedges. Its sheep and cattle 

 are housed ; its rich people have fled ; and its poor are sufter- 

 ing Avithin doors. Work and j^lay are alike at a standstill, or 

 have moved elsewhere. Communication has just been opened 

 up along country lanes ; but for some days villages unblessed 

 with a resident butcher and baker were in danger of total 

 staiTation. Londoners are said to have run short of water. 

 But better, surely, to go unwashed than unfed — better dirt than 

 hunger. Cuttings have been made everywliere through the 

 deep drifts that block the roads ; but to get from field to field 

 is still in many places impracticable. 



I hear of foxhunting in the snow in various places, and of a 

 fox having been fairly run down by the Hambledon. "Where 



