tement that
not more than five of that number will do their share towards
preserving the passage for those who follow them. The bulk of them will
vaguely wave what they, forsooth, term their hunting-whips towards the
returning gate; while others merely give their mounts a kick in the ribs
and gallop onwards, with no look behind at the mischief and
mortification they have caused. The gate slams, the crowd press on to
it, a precious minute or two is lost and scores of people are robbed of
their chance in the forthcoming gallop. And yet these are our sisters
whose arms and nerves are strong enough to steer an impetuous horse over
a most difficult country and who turn away from nothing that we can dare
to face. The intense annoyance entailed by a gate being dropped into its
intricate fastenings through want of ability or of consideration on the
part of the fair Amazon immediately preceding him, has brought into the
mouth of many a chivalrous sportsman a muttered anathema of the feminine
taste for hunting that scarce any other provocation would have availed
to rouse. It is only quite of late that a certain number of ladies have
supplied themselves with whips at all capable of supporting a gate; and
not many of these can use them even now. I make bold to say that not
only every lady who hunts should be armed with a sufficient hunting-crop
(with of course a lash to guard against its loss in a gateway), but that
no lady ought to deem herself qualified to take her place in the field
until she has learned how to use it. Were such a rule adhered to, we
should hear none of the sweeping remarks indulged in by sufferers who
have over and over again writhed under disappointments, that if
inflicted by our own sex, would have quickly called forth direct charges
of inconsiderateness and want of courtesy."

From this admonition the tyro may learn two things which will be of
great service to her in hunting. First, the necessity of providing
herself with a strong hunting crop, which should be sufficiently long
and stiff to stop a gate easily, with a good handle to it capable of
opening or stopping a gate, and the orthodox thong and lash attached to
prevent the whip from falling on the ground if she loses her hold of it
at a gateway. Provided with this serviceable crop, a lady, before she
appears in the hunting field, should ride through as many different
varieties of gates as she can find, and should thoroughly master the art
of opening and