Melton : its Horses a7id Hounds, 59 



ing quietly for a while, seeing the find and start, 

 and afterwards gracefully retiring from the scene. 

 Then, in after times, appeared a few professional 

 riders, going very hard indeed ; and by degrees ladies 

 began to hunt in earnest, and now it may be con- 

 sidered an invariable rule that a certain number will 

 be found with every crack pack, many of them beauti- 

 fully mounted, thoroughly well appointed, even to the 

 minute details of the luncheon-case and sherry-flask, 

 riding boldly and well to hounds, and seeming 

 thoroughly to enter into and enjoy the sport, whilst 

 exhibiting much nerve and showing a total disregard 

 of danger. 



Opinions differ with respect to amusements, some 

 looking indifferently on, and speaking disparagingly 

 of, hunting. To my mind there is no finer exercise or 

 manlier sport, and no pursuit that is better calculated 

 to make dashing cavalry officers or fearless fellows. 

 To a young man born with any amount of silver spoons 

 in his mouth, about to start on a career of pleasure, I 

 would say : There are three pursuits open to you — the 

 Chase, the Turf, and the Road. If you follow my 

 advice, you will stick to the first and the last in the 

 days of your youth, leaving the Turf until time has 

 brought you knowledge, and age has given you ex- 

 perience ; and even then you will find it will take you 

 all your time, and possibly all your money, to compete 

 with the shrewd and clever men, who make racing a 

 profession rather than a recreation. Admitting it to 

 be a very alluring pastime, and confessing that it must 

 be a very pleasant thing to have a string of racers and 

 to go in for the Blue Riband of the Turf and other 

 splendid prizes, it must still be borne in mind that the 



