Mr. Herbert Langham's Mastership, 229 



ness that must needs have tlieir reward^ it is to be hoped 

 that many a year may elapse before the " P.H." is 

 divorced from its present Huntsman, and a stranger be 

 seen in his place. 



The same wish may well include Master as well as 

 servant. The official life of the former has already ex- 

 ceeded the span allotted to the Masters of the ^^ P.H.^' 

 of modern days ; and few will be found to deny that the 

 path he has chosen to follow has been one of pleasantness 

 to those who have hunted with him. On first trying his 

 "prentis hand" at the duties entailed by ruling over a 

 hunting-establishment, his knowledge of the kennel-part 

 of it probably touched that point known as ^' unqualified 

 nescience.^^ Bringing natural aptitude to bear upon a 

 determination to master a subject full of interest as well 

 as of importance, he has now acquired the reputation of 

 being one of the best " hound-men " of the present day. 

 That this should be of great advantage to a Hunt need 

 not be expatiated upon ; the make, shape, blood, and 

 quality of the constituents of a pack being nearly all that 

 success requires. 



For instance ; to breed for speed alone would be to 

 reduce the number of good days in a season to a very 

 limited quantity. The fineness of limb and general for- 

 mation necessary to produce extra swiftness would neces- 

 sarily affect the parts where the scent-organs lie, and 

 contract the space requisite for their full development. 

 The familiar ^' howl ^^ about each succeeding winter being 

 the worst hunting-season on record may in a measure be 

 laid at the door of the M.F.H. and Huntsman going in 

 for galloping rather than scenting-power ; a subject ujDon 

 which Lord Charles Russell, in one of his admirable little 



