196 THE SOUTH DEVON HUNT 



successor, Mr. S. V. Thomas. This caused a good 

 deal of trouble at the time, but was ultimately, in 

 1890, settled by the arbitrament of the M. F. H. 

 Association. An outline of the controversy is given 

 in a separate chapter. ^ 



In the year 1888 the minimum subscription for 

 members was fixed at £3 3s. and a regulation was 

 introduced, which had been proposed the previous 

 year but then rejected, that every member of the 

 hunt whose subscription was paid should receive a 

 stud or button, to be worn in the hunting-field to 

 distinguish him there as a member of the hunt and to 

 exempt him from capping, which practice the com- 

 mittee had been compelled to adopt. A galloping fox 

 was first proposed for the design of this button, but 

 ultimately a fox's mask was adopted. The idea, 

 however, of the " receipt " button never found 

 favour, and the wearing of the button very soon fell 

 into disuse. 



About this time a new coat button was also insti- 

 tuted. It consisted of a convex brass button with a 

 raised monogram formed of the letters S.D.F.H. It 

 was also decided to adopt a distinctive collar to be 

 worn with the pink coat, and, after some discussion, 

 a buff collar was agreed upon. The buff collar endures 

 to this day, though it has not been adopted by all 

 members. An evening-dress uniform, consisting of a 

 scarlet coat and white waistcoat, was also assumed. 



In the year 1888 Mr. A. S. Rendell, to the regret of 

 all, withdrew from the position of joint honorary 

 secretary after six years' service, owing to pressure 

 of business, but he has never ceased to take an active 

 interest in the affairs of the hunt, in which he has 

 been most helpful. He was succeeded by Mr. H. S. 



1 See chapter XVIII. 



