•EXPENSES 295 



points in my opinion it will be necessary to make 

 a greater outlay in the fashionable countries than 

 elsewhere. Speaking roughly, however, it will be 

 found that, of the centres I have named, Melton 

 would be the most expensive, for the very simple 

 reason that more people desire to go there, and they 

 are those who either have money or spend it. I do 

 not think that two important items, wages and forage, 

 are higher there than elsewhere. A working stud 

 groom would have from 24s. to 30s. a week, and in 

 special cases I have known 40s. to be paid, but of 

 course I have nothing to do now with special wages 

 such as these. If a stud groom in charge of a large 

 stud of horses is honest and capable, it is difficult 

 to assess his value. A Melton stud groom, whose 

 master hunts six days a week during the season and 

 seldom sees his horses from March to November, or 

 only goes into his stable on Sunday afternoons, has 

 a great responsibility. Not only has he the charge 

 of much valuable property in horseflesh and the 

 practical control of a large expenditure, but on the 

 conscientious way in which he discharges his duty 

 depends to a great degree the safety of his master. I 

 readily acknowledge that many of these men are 

 remarkable both for integrity and ability, and they 

 are then worth any reasonable salary that can be paid 

 them. The first-rate men are as rare in the stable 

 as elsewhere. 



Of such men, however, I am not writing, but of 

 the ordinary working hunting groom who does his 

 duty under his master's eye, and in his turn sees that 

 his helpers do theirs. His wages would be as above, 

 with an extra lodging allowance of 4s. a week when 

 he is away from home if no cottage is supplied. This 

 sum is what I have paid, and it was the usual allow- 



