CHAPTER XII 



THE PRESENT DAY 



TT will be interesting to consider briefly the position of 

 * the Old Surrey pack at the present time ; and there are 

 many notable points which offer themselves for illumina- 

 tion. They must be touched upon with a true sense of 

 their significance. We find very different conditions 

 prevailing, of course, as contrasted with those described 

 in our earlier chapters. Hunting has vastly changed in 

 Surrey, as elsewhere ; narrower limits are imposed by an 

 inevitable law of progress, especially effective near a large 

 city ; horses and hounds are no doubt as good as ever, 

 foxes still continue to run gallantly, and men are prepared 

 to ride straight when they get the chance. Yet, in 

 certain districts, the chance does not, alas ! come to them 

 as often as formerly. They are obliged to be content 

 with fewer of the glorious gallops. We cannot " go," so 

 to speak, without a " country." 



Since the Sam Hills regime there have been several 

 huntsmen connected with the Old Surrey. James 

 Cockayne succeeded Sam Hills, and proved himself to 

 be a thoroughly able man in every respect. He was 

 generally liked, handled his hounds in the style of an 

 artist, and treated his patrons to many brilliant runs. 



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