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flat, and requires a clever hunter to negotiate safely : in 

 fact, it is called a " small Leicestershire." One authority 

 says, with admirable terseness, " a compact and clever 

 hunter is needed." He must be able to creep a little on 

 occasion, to be bold in a general way, and to possess a 

 capacity for jumping when he is tired. He may come to 

 a very awkward place at the last moment, for the country 

 abounds in such monstrosities or " raspers," and, if he 

 happens to get into a tangle, then his gallant rider may 

 have bad luck. A " provincial " cropper is often more 

 deleterious than one which occurs in "fashionable" circles. 

 " The Old Surrey," says a chronicler of 1870, "give a 

 lot of fun to Nimrods who know how to enjoy it, and do 

 not necessarily ride as if they were fleeing for their life 

 instead of after fox. The country is all serene for those 

 who love it. Others may come to scoff, and remain to 

 have — a very good time." Those sentiments are unim- 

 peachable. 



