IRature IRotes: 
tlbe Selborne Society’s ^IDagasine. 
No. 34. OCTOBER, 1892. Vol. III. 
THE MASTER OF THE BUCKHOUNDS. 
O compromise with social or bodily disease is a dan- 
gerous thing. What would be thought of a physician 
who gravely assured his patient that in another year 
he would treat him for his malady, but meanwhile he 
must wait ? It would be small wonder if by that time, supposing 
the sufferer did not succumb, his complaint became incurable. 
The love of cruel sport is a social disease still rampant among 
us. A favourable opportunity has lately presented itself of 
applying an immediate remedy with reasonable prospects of a 
cure. The recent change of Government suggested the abolition 
of the office of the Master of the Buckhounds, and the royal 
pack as well. Absurd as are many of the antiquated offices 
that still cling round a modern government, all reasoning people 
have ceased to believe that the Windsor district is a wild and 
tangled forest in which the mighty stag roams, as of yore, 
monarch of the woods, a fair match for man, horse and hound 
in strength and sagacity, and a terrible foe when brought to bay. 
There is just this to be said of the other needless appointments 
in the Ministry, that if they do no good they at least do no harm ; 
but to the absurdity of keeping up the office of the Master of 
the Buckhounds is to be added the cruelty which the whole 
system entails. This seems to have impressed the Prime 
Minister so far that the appointment has been made for one year 
only. The immediate abolition of the office would have set the 
seal of the state on opposition to cruel sport in all its forms. 
As matters now stand a distinct recognition has been given it. 
Pigeon-shooters and rabbit-coursers will justify their action on 
the plea that those high in rank are permitted to indulge in similar 
amusements, only on a larger scale. If the stream is to be 
purified the cleansing must begin at the fountain-head; in other 
words, if the masses are to be dissuaded from their indulgence in 
