1 68 Tally ho, 



the conditions, I think that the companionship of 

 ladies in the hunting-field is pleasant and agreeable in 

 the highest degree ; but when I see young girls badly 

 appointed, wanting in hands, and endowed with more 

 courage than discretion, mounted on raw, unmade, 

 and unmanageable animals, with legs like clothes- 

 props and mouths like coal-scuttles, attempting to 

 ride to hounds across a stiff country, well — then I wish 

 that they were at home embroidering slippers for the 

 new curate, who is charged with the care of the souls 

 in their particular parish. 



But whilst indulging in these discursive criticisms, 

 I am forgetting that the Thanet Harriers are to meet 

 within easy distance on this bright October morn. 

 Startino- off at a lively pace, the quiet and pleasant 

 little village of St. Lawrence is soon left behind, and 

 the open country speedily reached. On the one side 

 I see the shores of Pegwell Bay, over which the 

 white spray is flying in dense clouds, a boisterous 

 wind blowing rudely o'er these downs so free, whilst 

 on the opposite side I behold the '' white horses '^ 

 tumbling over one another on the treacherous saads 

 in the vicinity of Margate. 



Though a trifle less wind would have been desirable, 

 yet there was something extremely exhilarating in 

 galloping ao-ainst it over these open fields. True it 

 is that the ground was unusually dry and hard, and 

 that there necessarily could be but little scent. Yet 

 it had to be borne in mind that before the regular 

 season commences little more than exercise and 

 practice for the hounds is looked for. 



The Master of the Thanet Harriers is Mr. Johnston, 

 of Sarre Court, who looks the huntsman all over, and 



