h'ish Humour 137 



when Mr. Clutterbuck, in order to jump a ditch, handed his 

 loaded gun to King, the latter shot him, and buried him in 

 a bog hole. Fortunately, for the sake of justice, a little 

 girl was going home, unobserved by King, who watched the 

 proceedings and gave evidence, and on her testimony he was 

 duly convicted and hanged. 



Birr was our first quarter in Ireland, and we had a 

 most thoroughly enjoyable time, for the snipe-shooting 

 was excellent ; the foxhunting with the " Ormonde " and 

 King's County Hounds under Lord Hastings was very 

 good ; and there was capital sport also with the Kilmaine 

 Harriers, under the able mastership of Mr. Joseph 

 Studholme. "We could often reach also the meets of the 

 far-famed Galway Blazers, who were then hunted by one 

 of the best huntsmen I have ever seen, Mr. Burton Persse 

 of Moyode Castle. We usually had to go long distances 

 when we hunted with the Blazers, but Galway is proverbial 

 for hospitality, and many kind hosts vied with each other 

 in making things easy for us. There was one house that 

 received us more often within its hospitable doors than 

 any other, and there was ever a merry welcome awaiting 

 us from the pretty daughters of the house, who were 

 famous for their comeliness. One of the quaintest scenes 

 it was ever my lot to witness took place there one winter's 

 afternoon as we stopped for a few minutes rest and 

 refreshment. A famous " character," a former M.F.H. 

 of the Blazers, accompanied us, and took his seat by the 

 fireside with a glass of toddy in his hand. Observing that 

 he was toying with his glass, and knowing full well the 

 frolicsome nature of her guest, our hostess addressed him 

 with the remark, " Now, Johnny, finish up your whisky 

 like a good man, and get home. It's getting late !" 



