With the Pytchley, 105 



It would be hard, therefore, to pick out a place 

 having greater advantages for hunting men, regard 



beinor had to the fact that no less than six first-class 



o 



packs of hounds are within easy reach. 



Nor must it be imagined for one moment that 

 Rugby is tride, or that the inhabitants are unsociable 

 or inhospitable, for my experience tells a very different 

 tale. 



I had been but a few hours in the town before I 

 discovered many old friends hailing from all quarters, 

 with whom I passed an exceedingly good time ; and 

 had my mission in life been the writing of a historical 

 account of sporting events during the last half cen- 

 tury, I could have given ^^ the names, weights, and 

 colours of the riders " as faithfully as the most " Cor- 

 rect Card" that was overissued by Dorling. And as 

 I hstened to the recollections of Fitz Oldacre, who 

 rode in many of the most celebrated steeplechases of 

 former days, heard the criticisms of Darby, and the 

 corrections of Whitfield, I seemed to be living again 

 in the old far-off times when prize-fighting, cocking, 

 and steeplechasing were the amusements of the aris- 

 tocracy ; and memory recalled the time when I, a boy 

 of twelve or thirteen, following the fashions of the day, 

 rode a race at Chadwell-heath, and afterwards backed 

 Simple Simon in his fight with a travelling tinker, 

 " Mais nous avons change tout cela," and have become 

 virtuous accordingly, and eschew cakes and ale. 



Without seeing the stud and stables belonging to 

 Mr. Darby, and failing to inspect his model farm, I 

 should leave Rugby, I was told, without seeing its 

 most notable features. 



First, I visited the stables, which are situated in 



