The Hunting Year 



goodly numbers at the opening day, that is in 

 any country in which hunting farmers are still 

 left. The young ones are all mounted on likely- 

 looking horses, and you may depend that how- 

 ever hard hounds may run, or however rough 

 and strong may be the country, two or three of 

 that black-coated group will be found " right 

 there," as the Yankees have it. 



The regular hunting men, the four days a 

 week men, are good to tell as they come up. 

 There is a sobriety about their horses — a kind 

 of " this is what I am used to " air — which there 

 is no mistaking. And the men themselves have 

 a business-like appearance which cannot fail to 

 impress even a casual observer. From the fit of 

 their hat-guard to the knee buttons on their 

 breeches, to their spurs and spur-straps, every- 

 thing seems as if it were in the only possible 

 place, and as if it had come there of itself with- 

 out effort from anyone. 



Hospitality always prevails on the opening 

 day, but the wise man will eschew the Hunt 

 breakfast and content himself with a sandwich 

 or a biscuit and a glass of cherry brandy. He 



7 6 



