2IO PINK AND SCARLET 



conditions very nearly akin to those of active 

 service, can possibly do. 



Shooting, especially deer-stalking, with its accom- 

 panying necessity for the observation of ground and 

 of nature, is good ; and the same may be said of 

 fishing, because of the experience gained of river 

 and stream. Mountaineering teaches use of ground, 

 and the most difficult of o^round too. Yachting- 

 familiarizes us with water, and all Officers should 

 know how to sail a boat, and be able to swim. 

 Polo will give a firm, independent seat in the saddle, 

 and teach us to ride without thinking every minute 

 of what our mount is going to do, and this is good, 

 because no Mounted Officer can do his work 

 properly if his attention is occupied with, and his 

 nerves concerned about, his horse. Cricket, foot- 

 ball, and all out-door games and pastime that are 



"Worth a rap for rational man to play," 



that is, which, to play successfully, require nerve, 

 decision, endurance, and the keeping of the temper, 

 cannot but be good. 



The teaching, however, which any one, or all, of 

 these can impart to the soldier, is but limited, com- 

 pared with that given by the proper use of hunting ; 

 more especially in that all-important desideratum in 

 modern war — the intelligent use of ground. 



Quick grasp of the right use of ground, with a 

 view either to save your men from unnecessary 

 work or losses, and to the defeating of the enemy, 

 means the possession o'i fighting intelligence^ that is, 



