CHAPTER IX 



SOCIAL AND CONVIVIAL ASPECTS 



HUNTING men are renowned proverbially for their 

 social, if not convivial, proclivities, and, as a rule, 

 there is a genial camaraderie amongst them which makes 

 for joy. Their bond of sympathy is that of pure sport, 

 of love for horse and hound. No wonder, then, they 

 find a pleasure in each other's society, in describing the 

 many glorious gallops after fox which have gladdened 

 their hearts, and in comparing notes with brother-enthu- 

 siasts as to some of the chief raptures of the chase. A 

 great deal of genial talk is thus stimulated ; many good 

 stories are told. Soul responds to soul, wit answers wit, 

 and — oh, yes — there have been libations. But, at the 

 present time, a quieter policy prevails, and perhaps it is 

 as well. 



In the old days, we read, followers of the Old Surrey 

 used to have some glorious times. Life was easier then, 

 and they made the best of it with exuberant energy. 

 They did not necessarily go home at once when they 

 had finished hunting. Occasionally it happened — or the 

 ancient records fail to do them justice — that merry parties 

 were made up, at which the toast of fox-hunting was 

 honoured with extreme ardour, probably until a late hour, 



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