20 Sportsmen Parsons in Peace and War 



The Acklam Estate became the Hustlers' property in 

 Charles I.'s time. It is now worth ten times more than in those 

 days, as Middlesborough, the home of many industries, has 

 spread itself almost up to the gates, land fetching long prices 

 and big rents gladly paid. In addition to Acklam, Sladnor Park 

 in Devonshire, and Newsham Hall, Darlington, also belong to 

 the Hustlers. 



It must have been difficult for strangers to realise that 

 George and William Hustler were brothers, being absolutely 

 unlike both in appearance and tastes, but they had the same 

 gentle voice in common with all Hustlers and had the curious 

 Yorkshire habit of clipping their words. George habitually said 

 " huntin' " and " cubbin' " instead of " hunting " and " cub- 

 ing " — quite the Dundreary style. 



These brothers were always eager to look at the papers for 

 the " meets," but for diametrically opposite reasons. George 

 used to laugh at this, as his elder brother scrutinised the list with 

 the view to avoiding coming into touch with hounds and their 

 followers ; he even forbade his grandchildren to walk to a meet 

 near their home for fear they might catch infectious complaints, 

 presumably the infection of sport ; while he, George, carefully 

 studied the list to see how many meets were within possible 

 distance for him to reach, and hunt with them. When they were 

 far afield he sometimes used to drive in a remarkably uncomfort- 

 able sort of market cart, in which he would pick up anybody he 

 met on the road that he thought would be glad of a Hft. A drive 

 in this cart was a real trial. The seat was loose, and had views 

 of its own as to its proper position in life. When travelling in a 

 hilly country passengers started at one side of the cart and 

 speedily drifted to the other, and, unless very careful, might 

 easily find themselves on the road. 



Drives with Mr. George Hustler were usually full of incident. 

 He used to take passing fancies to things he met on the road. 

 On one occasion, when driving sixteen miles to a meet, he took 

 a fancy to some ducks, which he stopped and bought, taking 

 them with him in the cart. They never ceased quacking the 

 whole sixteen miles, slowly and plaintively when the horse was 

 walking uphill, furiously and protesting ly when trotting. Per- 

 haps, like the poor occupants of the cart who were shaken 

 nearly to pieces, they could not help it ! 



