104 A GAMEKEEPER'S NOTE-BOOK 



There was something pleasing about the old familiar 

 name for the gamekeeper " Velveteens " : but it has 



been dropped almost completely, because 

 ve^eens no l n er appropriate. In the old times all 



gamekeepers were clad in ample coats of 

 velveteen. To-day, for one in velveteen you may 

 see a hundred in tweeds. And it is only the Cockney 

 who calls the keeper " Velveteens " to his face 

 thereby putting him on his dignity at the least, if 

 not insulting him. The old-time coat was pleasant to 

 the eye, so long as it was kept unspotted by rain. 

 But its bloom departed after a few minutes' exposure 

 to a generous shower, and no amount of drying or 

 brushing would bring it back. Moreover, the shirt 

 of the man beneath the coat would probably suffer 

 also from the wetting. The best of velveteen was its 

 thorn-resisting qualities. Tweeds resist rain besides 

 the thorns the thick, heavy, closely-woven tweeds 

 of the neutral brown tint that are now the fashion 

 for keepers' clothes. It is a long time before they 

 can be thoroughly wetted and the keeper's wife will 

 tell you it is as long before they can be thoroughly 

 dried. They have two drawbacks if made to fit 

 closely and well they are uncomfortable for shooting 

 until almost worn out ; and they are too hot and 

 heavy for summer wear. Employers would be 

 investing profitably if they allowed their keepers, 

 instead of the one suit a year, a summer and a winter 

 suit. Comfort in dress makes a wonderful difference 

 in the keeper's work ; hence the keeper's affection 



