CHAPTER XII 



MR. EDWARD FAIRFAX STUDD : FIRST MASTERSHIP, 



1882-84 



Mr. Studd and Mr. Whidbome succeed to the Haldon side — Kennels at Oxton 

 — Claim the country vacated by Ross — Claim waived in favour of Mr. 

 Hemming — Temporary re-union on his failing — Both sides of country 

 hunted as " South Devon " — A brief partnership — A staghunt and its 

 sequel — A friendly settlement — A change of plans : the country again 

 partitioned — Some reflections on the conventions of hunting — Was Mr. 

 Studd's action a breach ? — Obligations of an M.F.H. — Wolf-hunting by 

 the Duke of Beaufort — Orthodoxy of bigotry ? — A successful season — 

 A popular secretary — A contrast with present-day conditions — Sir J. 

 Duntze presents the pack to Mr. Studd — Changes in the pack and notes 

 on individual hounds — A fine run — A curious finish — Comments — Mr. 

 Studd's aversion from bagmen — A silver fox ? — Good sport in his second 

 season — Another staghunt : Mr. Tremlett's Harriers — Sam Gilmore. 



" The thrilHng tones still vibrate on my ear, 

 WTien every hill in tuneful chorus rung 

 And every dell your deepest wilds among, 

 Filled with the chaunting of my gallant cry, 

 In tenfold echoes paid their melody." 



{On looking back from Haldon for the last time on Stover. 



By Geo. Templer.) 



WHEN Sir Lawrence Palk and Sir John Duntze 

 gave up the Haldon pack in the spring of 

 1882, a meeting was held at Exeter to decide upon 

 future arrangements. At that meeting Mr. Whid- 

 borne of Teignmouth and Mr. Studd of Oxton were 

 elected joint-masters. Sir John Duntze lent them 

 his pack of seventeen and a half couple, with a 

 promise to convert the loan into a gift after one 

 season, and gave a donation of £100. Kennels 

 were fitted up in the farm buildings half a mile 

 from Oxton, under the Hang of Oxton, the pack 



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