AND THE PRESENT DAY 5 



I remember, years ago, when I used to meet the 

 Queen's hounds, before the South-Western line was 

 made, there was only one old wayside inn at Woking, 

 which was much resorted to by " the fancy," for it 

 was a noted spot for pugilists. Many and many a 

 prize-fight have I seen there. Now Woking is a 

 little town — I mean the new town, not the old 

 town some four miles distant ; and the spots where 

 I used to knock over the snipe and plover are now 

 built on and enclosed. And so it will go on to 

 the end of all time ; bricks and mortar, iron and 

 compo, will rise up, large and small buildings, all over 

 the face of the country, and those whose hearts are 

 still bent on sport will have to go farther afield for it. 



But this is already done. France, Sweden, 

 Norway, Hungary, Bohemia, Bavaria, and other 

 countries, have their English sportsmen. Bailways 

 have made nearly all places within reach of those 

 with means. Scotch moors that you could rent 

 thirty years ago for £50 a year, are now £500 ; 

 the rivers the same ; and grouse that are killed 

 one day in Scotland are eaten the next in all parts 

 of the United Kingdom. 



Some men meet the hounds now thirty and forty 

 miles away from home. They breakfast comfort- 

 ably at home, then step into the train, and are 

 whirled away with their horses and grooms ; have 



