307 



TDOok devoted to Hunting. I would also have them bear in mind 

 that 



The fox takes precedence of all from the covert ; 



The horse is an animal i)urposely bred 

 After the pack to he ridden, not over— 



Good hounds are not reared to be knocked on the head. 



I venture still further with these young fellows, and I do so with 

 all delicacy and with the sole object of promoting sport. Let them 

 •recognise it as a fact that any damage done by them in the hunting field 

 is looked upon by masters of crack packs in a much worse light than 

 would the same if done by members of the hunt. If on the other hand 

 these young men from our cities conduct themselves like sportsmen in 

 'the field, are courteous and civil to the farmers, and subscribe liberally 

 to the hunt fund, I am very sure they would be welcomed to the 

 meet of any pack of foxhounds. If they don't behave themselves they 

 «deserve to be ordered away directly they appear. 



Hurrah for old England and Ireland ! Never shall we see in the 

 annals of our sports a record so disgraceful and unmanly as the following 

 the reproduction of which I trust may not pollute the pages of my 

 book : — 



Bull-fighting Statistics.— During the past year (1892) the number of 

 first-class bull-fights in important cities in Spain was 289, the bulls killed 

 being 1,594. There have also been 307 fights of young bulls (novillos), in 

 which 1,407 were slaughtered. Of the chief fights 26 took place in Madrid, 

 13 in Seville, 12 in Barcelona, and 11 in Valencia. Two men (picadors) 

 were killed ; one of the espadas and banderilleros, while 16 others were 

 more or less seriously wounded. In each course from six to eight bulls are 

 done to death ; but recently in Madrid, in a fight which extended over two 

 days, 18 were finished off. On some days 24 horses, or even more, are gored 

 to death by the long horns of the Spanish bulls. The bull-ring in Madrid 

 holds 15,000 spectators," nor dames, in high rapture, the spectacle shocks !" 



Thales, the greatest of all Greek philosophers, and renowned to this 

 day for his wisdom, thanked the gods daily that he was a Grecian and 

 not a Barbarian. We Britons should feel equally proud of our 

 nationality and thankful for it. 



