THE OPENING DAY. 41 



subscriptions to Hunt, Poultry or Covert funds, or any 

 similar vexatious exactions, shall be for a moment enter- 

 tained ; while any servant receiving a fee shall be sum- 

 marily dismissed. AMio shall say that these are not 

 sterling advantages — and that the promotion of such an 

 undertakins; does not recommend itself to all who would 

 see the love of sport diffused, and its conditions 

 popularised ? To-day the entire spectacle was provided, 

 a whole audience present and gratified, and a bevy of 

 actors played their parts ; but no grist came to any mill, 

 no handsome proceeds fell into the pockets of enterprising 

 promoters. Still, much was done to prove what might 

 be effected in this direction — and the spectacle was as 

 successful as it was suggestive. A fox was handsomely 

 found ; was hunted for more than an hour coram omni- 

 Jms ; and was duly killed, for the edification of the 

 hundreds — without transgressing for a moment beyond 

 the boundaries of the chosen arena. That the performance 

 should have been thus duly retained within bounds was 

 on this occasion of course onl}^ a matter of happy fortune 

 — but it shows what might be done here b}' judicious and 

 competent management. 



Having catered thus for popular requirements, the 

 ]\Iaster took his hounds on to Scraptoft; whence they 

 showed their followers a thorough hunting run of an hour. 

 Though a ring, it was over beautiful country ; and ended 

 at a drain near Barkl)}' Holt. 



