EXPENSES 301 



been noted, to take as much and give as little in 

 return as possible in the matter of prices. 



It has more than once happened to me that when 

 I have recommended a town I have been met with 

 the observation, " Oh, but it is such an expensive place, 

 isn't it ? " In some cases, no doubt the reputation 

 for high charges lives on after the people who made 

 them, yet it is none the less good for trade that such 

 an impression should be removed. Nevertheless I 

 am quite clear that it is a duty which those owe to 

 the country in which they hunt, and especially if they 

 come from a distance, as far as possible to deal in the 

 place where they find their pleasure. There must 

 not be in this any more than in anything else a divorce 

 between the interests of the inhabitants of a district 

 and the hunt. I have dwelt long on this topic, 

 because it is of great importance to the future of 

 hunting, and also on the other side, to the prosperity 

 of country towns. I believe too that the continuance 

 of the well-being of country tradespeople is a matter 

 of national importance. If they must at last in- 

 evitably be absorbed by the great stores and mighty 

 shops, let us at least put off the evil day as long as 

 possible, and neither as customers nor sellers hasten 

 it by selfishness or greed. 



But as these considerations affect the expenditure 

 of hunting folk, I think it may be said that our ex- 

 penses must in the nature of things be higher than 

 they would be at our homes, or in London or Brighton. 

 We must be prepared for this, then, for while we ask 

 for and expect the best quality, yet we must remember 

 that business in the country neither occupies so large 

 a capital nor has so rapid a turnover as in London 

 or other great cities, and that therefore slightly higher 

 charges are admissible. On our side, we have not 



