320 The Pytchley Hunt, Past and Present. 



horsewomen of his country^ would have been a matter of 

 congratulation to Baron Alderson — a learned judge — 

 who was not blind to the fact that the sports of the field 

 have charms for either sex. 



No one more than he — grave and learned lawyer that 

 he was — would have appreciated the skill, daring, and 

 grace of his fair descendants. 



SIR CHARLES ISHAM, BART, 



If position in the county and the ownership of such 

 covers as ^^ Blueberry/' " Clint Hill/' and "Berrydale'' 

 may entitle a country gentleman to consideration as one 

 of the mainstays of his Hunt, to few is this title more 

 applicable than to Sir Charles Isham of Lamport Hall. 



Without evincing that enthusiasm for hunting which 

 has characterized other members of his family, Sir 

 Charles has ever been amongst its most constant 

 supporters, and in his younger days was often to be 

 seen suflBciently close to hounds to keep up the credit of 

 a name distinguished for its powers across a country. 



That the ^' animus venandi '' at no time raged 

 furiously within his breast, is to be gathered from the 

 fact, that the worthy Baronet was usually one of the 

 first to turn his horse's head homeward, and leave 

 others to participate in the good or evil that might be 

 awaiting them after the first gallop. Pleased to hear of 

 a good run, especially if from one of his own covers, the 

 fact of having missed it by a too hasty retreat was never 

 alluded to as a matter for regret or self-reproach; nor did 

 ihe feeling of " better luck next time '^ seem at all to 



