THE OPENING DAY. 39 



species of art in tlic distant abstract, or flimiliarised only 

 through the medium of Caldecott and stray scribblers 

 (who shall be nameless) in the sporting papers. But 

 extremes will meet — and here Avas an instance of the 

 industry of democratic Leicester drawing to itself the 

 frivolity of rural and patrician sport. Hosiery has long 

 been the staple trade of the city. Here it had committed 

 itself to the freak of eliminating the aspirate, and esta- 

 blished a large osiery within easy hail of its portals. 

 To supply the manuflxctory with nuiterial, many acres of 

 wet ground had been utilised as a withy bed ; and had 

 at once been seized upon by tlie fiimily of Reynard as 

 doubtless laid out for their especial comfort and advan- 

 tage. Thus there have been foxes among the willows 

 throughout the summer ; and though the neighbourhood 

 is one scarcely calculated to show the sport in its freest 

 form, huntiu": them was little less than a matter of neces- 

 sity — besides offering an opportunity of paying a well- 

 earned compliment to city and citizens. The river Soar 

 flows just below the willowbed ; the village of Thurmaston 

 (almost a corporate part of Leicester) hems it in on one 

 side ; Syston and its junction completely seal it up on the 

 other ; while houses and gardens nearly complete the 

 square — and every chance crevice was now carefidly 

 stopped by the enthusiastic bystanders. But has there 

 not ere this been a well-advertised Fox Hunt in 

 Alexandra Park, attracting and delighting all the north 

 of London 'i Gate money ventures are now quite the 

 fashion of the day ; and Leicester has not been behind 

 its fellows in appreciating the advantages of such enter- 



