The Hunting Year 



intentions. Once a magnificent luncheon was 

 provided by some hospitable gentlemen, but 

 they made the silly — I had almost said the un- 

 pardonably silly — mistake of having a couple 

 of tents and asking the farmers and their wives 

 to one tent and the country gentry and their 

 friends to the other. The farmers were natur- 

 ally offended and so were the rest of the guests, 

 many of whom joined the farmers by way of 

 protest. My friend, if ever you have anything 

 to do with organising the refreshment depart- 

 ment of a Point to Point Meeting, bear in mind 

 what Lord George Bentinck said : " That on the 

 Turf and under it all men are equal." 



The farmers and their friends are the guests 

 of the Hunt on this occasion, and no effort 

 should be spared to ensure them a thoroughly 

 enjoyable day. And to give hunting men their 

 due no effort in this direction is spared, and the 

 mistake to which I have drawn attention is the 

 exception which proves the rule. 



I must honestly own that it is the social 



rather than the sporting aspect of Point to Point 



meetings which appeals to me. I prefer my 



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