Charles Richardson

The Complete Foxhunter Charles Richardson

Publisher Marketing: INTRODUCTION WHICH CONTAINS THE PREFACE HAT hunting was never so popular as it is just now is a fact which admits of no dispute. Practically every inch of the country where riding is possible is hunted by one or more packs of hounds, and where the riding is bad, and there are no coverts for foxes-or too much population, as in Lancashire -th ere are harrier packs while where there are neither foxhounds nor harriers, foot-beagles will surely be found. Otter-hound packs, too, travel all over the country during the summer months and the crowds which are present at the August meets of the Devon and Somerset staghounds must be seen to be appreciated. On all sides, indeed, evidence to the effect that hunting is the most important of all English field sports is afforded. The print shops, not only in London but in every town in the kingdom, have their windows full of hunting pictures and many of the ordinary com- mercial advertisers of the day have brought similar Scenes into requisition for the purpose of advertising their wares. At the Peterborough and Reigate hound shows no stranger could help being astonished at the crowd of men and women who come to worship at the shrine of the hound and when any pack of hounds of great reputation is for sale, either privately or by auction, there is not only much excitement in the hunting world, but probably the sale is on so great a scale that it will be talked about for years to come.....