1881-82.] C0XCLUS10N-. 4'3'3' 



No one is so insatiable, no one is so devoted to his choseii 

 taste, and no one clings so absorbingly to it, as lie who sets 

 the chase on^ a pinnacle above all other pursuits in life. No 

 wonder, then, he views the arrival of spring as an absolute 

 calamit}', none the less mournful that it is unavertable. To' 

 ver}' many men (though few" of them would, i)erliaps, confess ■ 

 it) the forthcoming months present an uneventful blank, during-, 

 which they will live merely on recollection of the past and 

 dreams of the future. Fortunately we are not all so situated ; 

 but to everyone fond of hunting, loving its stirring incidents, 

 and delighting in its social charms, there must be something, 

 melancholy in the knowledge that it has passed away from us. 

 — and men are ver}- chary about speaking confidentially of. 

 plans and prospects for a "next season." He can be only 

 half keen who does not linger one moment, ere throwing for' 

 the last time his leg over the good steed's neck ; who does not 

 watch him wistfully till the stable door has closed ui)on him ; 

 and who does not sigh as he kicks his well-worn hunting hat 

 across the hall. 



A flood of sunshine, in place of the too-usual deluge of rain, 

 poured down upon the final celebration of the Melton season ;. 

 and the Hunt Steeplechases were a merry wake, in whose 

 enactment it was difticult to perceive anything funereal. The 

 season was dead ; but its life had been one of almost un- 

 exampled cheeriness. Wh}", then, should its memory be 

 draped in black ? These Chases form the final reunion of all 

 Avho have been hunting with the four packs of the district ; and 

 the bright livery of the hunt servants ofters a link with scenes 

 so recent and eventful — if the dress of the riders generally is- 

 more in keeping with Newmarket than the covert-side. The 

 Belvoir have had a season of thorough and continual sport u 

 the Quorn perhaps the best on their books. Sir Bache has- 

 achieved very signal success, especially since the New Year ; 

 and the Cottesmore, though for a long time out of luck, wound 

 up with several runs quite up to their true form. So there was 

 only congratulation to exchange, only a pleasant past to dwell 



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