CHAP. IV.] The Brixworth Sp07'ting- Pauper. 115 



" A hat so grim was on his head, 

 Methinks I see it now ; 

 So wan and thin, with hue of lead, 

 And grease upon its brow." 



However effective might liave been the rest of the 

 attire, the hat would have spoilt the lot ; and is there any 

 portion of a man's dress so potent in its effects as a 

 '^ shockinsr bad hat " ? The comeliest features and the 

 most aristocratic bearing are alike at the mercy of a hat. 

 The American poet, Oliver Wendell Holmes, formed his 

 opinion of a bishop's character and fitness for his office 

 on seeing him hand over his umbrella to a lady during 

 a heavy shower, and walk off in a brand-new hat. 



Having evidently formed a correct estimate of the 

 importance of this covering, Mr. Wendell Holmes in one 

 of his poems is found to say : — 



*' Wear a g:ood hat ; the secret of your looks 

 Rests with the beaver in Canadian brooks. 

 Virtue may flourish in an old cravat, 

 But man and nature scorn the ' shocking hat.' " 



The Meets near home were naturally those which 

 this unique specimen of the English citizen principally 

 affected; but on one occasion ^' Eatepayer ^^ (for by a 

 fine irony, that must have been the old ^^ crock's^' 

 name) was made to go as far as Misterton, some 

 seventeen miles from his stable-door. The historian of 

 these times tells us that after his long journey 

 he looked sorry for himself and as if he would 

 like to " lean against a wall, and think ; '^ but a 

 rally must have taken place, as we know that he 

 joined in the chase for a while, and ultimately slept 

 in his own stable. Hearing of this, his sixth or 

 seventh day with the hounds, the Guardians seem to 



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