128 A MONTH IN THE F^ORESTS OF FRANCE. 



till wanted in September; — with only this difference, 

 that a coachman does visit his carriage, and brush it 

 up, and keep it in visibly fair condition ; whereas, as 

 previously described, when the hunting season is 

 over, the hounds are never taken out to exercise or 

 cared for, save in setting before them, in the most 

 slovenly manner, bad food, till the season recom- 

 mences. A gentleman, perhaps, will order his hounds 

 to be dressed with brimstone once or twice in a sea- 

 son, and having done so, he is satisfied ; after that 

 they are left usually to an idle and ignorant horn- 

 blower, or to some old labouring man established as 

 boiler and feeder, who knows about as much of a 

 hound's condition as he knows of diplomacy, and who 

 is deemed incapable of doing anything else — and this 

 in the finest hunting woodlands in the world, filled 

 with the best animals of chase. 



In energy, perseverance, courage, and love of sport, 

 you cannot find a fault with the French gentlemen ; 

 you cannot surpass, though you may equal him, in 

 the dangerous but beautiful pleasure of making in on 

 a huge solitaire at bay ; all the French gentleman 

 wants is a more efficient pack of hounds, and the 

 knowledge of how those hounds should be treated. 

 Frenchmen have much to learn in the art of venerie 

 with hounds ; they can shoot, they can ride, and they 



