1 50 The Pytchley Hunt, Past and Present. 



exposed the new Master to those comparisons which do 

 not assist in bearing a newly-undertaken burden. 

 Happily in the case of the new '^ chef '^ there was no need 

 for comparison. Half a county-man^ from having 

 married the eldest daughter of the Marquis of North- 

 ampton — residing at Harleston House — devoted , to 

 hunting, and a brilliant rider, it was not possible to find 

 a man more acceptable to the farmers and landlords of 

 the ''^P.H.^' than Viscount Alford, eldest son of Earl 

 Brownlow. With charming manners and a remarkabl}^ 

 aristocratic mien and appearance, the new Master 

 speedily found himself enjoying a popularity which is 

 only to be acquired by not allowing the wish to show 

 sport to engender a harassing policy in the field. No 

 greater mistake can be entertained by a master of hounds 

 than to be constantly ^^ nagging" at the horsemen who do 

 not do everything exactly "according to Cocker." A 

 strongly expressed monition, if hounds are being over- 

 ridden or some neglect of the evident necessity of the 

 moment is being put in practice, is always received as 

 deserved and opportune. The writer, however, after an 

 experience of more than half a century of Men and 

 Masters is convinced that in the interests of sport, even 

 the totally let-alone policy is preferable to the one of 

 constant remonstrance. " Fussiness " in a Master 

 produces irritation in those that hunt with him, and that 

 begets a spirit of " you-be-hangedness " which should 

 never exist between a M.F.H. and his field. 



For some years, an over-keen Master (with a by no 

 means over-good temper) of a neighbouring pack, robbed 

 the day's hunting of more than half its enjoyment by his 

 frequent interference with innocent offenders, and the 



