71 



need little more to convince men without even any sporting pro- 

 clivities that they should support hunting by every means in their 

 power. 



As I said before, there are many and diverse reasons that induce 

 men to take the field — I cannot say to hunt— and to quote from 

 Jorrocks (p. 244 of " Handley Cross "), " how warious are the motive 

 that draw men to the kiver-side. Some come to see, others to be 

 seen ; some for the ride out, others for the ride 'ome ; some for 

 happetites, some for 'ealth ; some to get away from their wives, and 

 a few to hunt." 



Yes, truly, only a few to hunt ! Only a few out of a large field, 

 perhaps two hundred to five hundred, who know anything about 

 what they are engaged in, with all the rest caring little or knowing 

 nothing about it. Is it therefore to be wondered at that the boiler 

 of the Master's temper at times bursts with tremendous force, 

 scattering scalding steam right and left among the offending and 

 unruly crowd % No, indeed, it is not ; and every allowance should 

 be made for such explosions, for he, being " one pure concentrated 

 essence of hunting," with nervous anxiety for the safety of his hounds, 

 and his sole object in view being to show a good day's sport, would 

 be more than human if he could, or even would, put up with the 

 aggravation he is so continuously subjected to by a host of ignora- 

 muses mad with excitement ! 



However excusable it may be at times for a Master of Hounds to 

 use strong language, it would, of course, be better that he should not 

 do so, and there are many Masters who, no matter what the pro- 

 vocation, never resort to it. To prevent the effect we must remove 

 the cause, and that is most readily done by initiating possible 

 offenders into the mysteries of hunting usage and science by means 

 of some such practical lessons and explanations, as I have endeavoured 

 to give. This is all the more necessary in these days of reformation, 

 and when the company in the hunting-field, like many other institu- 

 tions, is of a different character to that of years gone by. 



Men need a course of instruction in hunting quite as much as 

 they do upon any other subject — a great deal more than upon 

 many. But they seldom or ever get such instruction, hence most 

 of the harm they do arises from ignorance ; but they get blown-up 

 by the Master all the same, and, like the whipper-in of old, get 

 damned if they do this, and damned if they do that, until at last they 

 are damned if they know what to do ! 



How many men who hunt continually, and who think they are 

 fond of it, ever read a book like Beckford's " Thoughts upon Hunt- 

 ing," or Delme Radcliffe's " Noble Science," with the view of learning 

 theory ? They may read " Jorrocks " or " Soapy Sponge," but do so 

 simply because these books are written in an amusing strain ; but 

 they are quite oblivious of the fact that almost every chapter, and 

 sometimes every page of the chapter, gives sound practical advice 



