b THE INFLUENCE OF 



when his charge has left his protection, and he is 

 free to ride where his individual wishes and the 

 exigencies of the hunt may lead liim. 



What a knowdedge of country fox - hunting 

 teaches ! A man who hunts will, at an emer- 

 gency, be far better able than one who does not to 

 choose a course, and select a line, which will lead 

 him right. Generals hold that the topographical 

 instinct of the fox-hunter is of considerable advan- 

 tage in the battle-field ; and it is undoubtedly easy 

 to imagine circumstances in which a man accus- 

 tomed to find his way to or from hounds, in spite 

 of every opposition and difficulty, will make use of 

 the power which he has acquired and be superior 

 to the man who has not had similar advantages. 



Finally, fox-hunting encourages energy and "go." 

 The sluggard or lazy man never succeeds as a 

 fox-hunter, and he who adopts the chase as an 

 amusement soon finds that he must lay aside all 

 listlessness and inertness if he would enjoy to the 

 full the pleasures which he seeks. A man who 

 thinks a long ride to cover, or a jog home in a 

 chill, dank evening in November, a bore, will not 

 do as a fox-hunter. The activity which considers 

 no distance too great, no day too bad for hunting, 

 will contribute first to the success of the sportsman, 

 and ultimately to the formation of the character of 

 the man. 



