FIELD SPORTS ON CHARACTER 15 



or wish to try, to get the better of him, or share, 

 in some way, the advantages which he hopes his 

 cunning has acquired for himself. 



A thorough disregard for truth, too, is taught by 

 horse-racing ; not, perhaps, instanced always by the 

 affirmation of falsehood, but negatively by the con- 

 cealment or distortion of fact. An owner seldom 

 allows even his best friend to know the result of 

 his secret trials, and in some notable cases such 

 results are kept habitually locked in the breast of 

 one man, who fears to have a confidant, and doubts 

 the integrity of everyone. Whether this is a state 

 of things which can be altered, either by diminish- 

 ing the number of race-meetings in England, or by 

 discouraging or even putting down betting, I have 

 no wish to consider ; but that the present condition 

 of horse-racing and its surroundings is very far 

 removed from being a credit to the country, I 

 venture to affirm. 



Cricket is another field sport, the popularity of 

 which has rapidly increased ; partly from the entire 

 harmlessness which characterises it, and leads to 

 the encouragement of it by schoolmasters and 

 clergymen, and partly from the fact that it is 

 played in the open air, in fine weather, and in 

 the society of a number of companions. I do not 

 propose to inquire whether there is benefit in the 

 general spreading of cricket through the country. 



