New-York tribune., 1907-08-25
GROUSE SHOOTING.
Timing on the Moors-Somerset
House Sportsmen.
London, August 10.

expenses OF keepers gies butler, coachman,
housernaids footmen and odd men without mum
her saved The rent also sufices 10 send the
owners abroad for long holiday or to piece out
income from other sources The weather this
year has been cold and wet. and there many
shootings where the young grouse have been
drowned in large numbers and where the
parrridges and pheasants have not nested well.
The demand for shootings in Yorkshire. Perth
shire and the Highlands has been slack. and
many owners have been unable find tenants
after reducing their charges a third or half
Conditions sufficiently depressing without
any flesh source OF encouragement; yet with
what is called by enthusiastic sportsmen the
GLORIOUS Twelfth about TO dawn. and with
practical evidence that there is not much
money in the country for holiday pleasures as
there used 10 be, the newspapers printing
letters from victims of lavish hospitality warn
ing the inexperienced against accepting invita-
ric-s without counting the cost This is a
finishing stroke for the distressed landed pro-
priesor. a phenomenally cold season like the
present one may not be likely 10 recur another
year: but the whole system OF letting shootings
will be doomed If servants are left at liberty to
prey upon guests.
The cid fashioned shooting boxes have disap-
peared II wealthy sportsman wishes TO en-
tertain his friends in good style he must not
only have a large acreage OF woodland. rough
pasture and grouse moor, with competent
staff of dependents. but also luxurious house.
with tennis courts. golf courses. croquet grounds
and gardens OF considerable extent With the
high rentals prevailing during recent years
Owners have been improving residences and out
buildings and increasing the acreage; and there
Is large body of servants and outdoor TO
be supported by tips from guests. The hospit-
able host in his eagerness TO make everybody
aF7la and IN a
rrincely way burdens his guests with incidental
expenses. This. apparently, is inevitable when
the thing is TO be done well or not attempted
af all. one Of the correspondents reciting his
experience after four-day holiday the
rnoors counts the cost at something over 16.
including railway fare cartridges. game license
and tips TO servants; and he is careful TO ex-
plain that il was modest party, with entertain
raent on a small scale and with light tipping
Il he had provided his outfit for first invita-
tion and purchased guns and clothes, his short
holiday would have cost about 10O without
allowance for bridge play in the evening or in
cfdentai betting. The moral Of confessions like
this is obvious II prudent man wishes TO
save money. let him decline Invitations from the
North for shooting and take good run on the
Continent.
Il is refreshing in these days of lavish ex-
penditures 10 drop into a club chair beside an
oldtime sportsman and TO hear him describe
what a shooting box was like when he was
young. Il a plainly furnished, moderate
sized house. without luxurious appointments or
q, swarm OF servants. There was an abundance
Of substantial fare served with simplicity, and
thsre was small company with keen zest for
outdoor life and genuine sport The host ex-
pected his guests to enjoy their visit without
worrying over Incidental expenses or Gripping
their purses in tips He had no intention Of
E,;.- -as,-c 20
Sleed them. There hearty hospitality on a
small scale with natural and easy talk about
guns, horses and birds. and plenty Of pipe
smoking with occasional nip OF whiskey
There was real sense Of cOmpanionship and
GOV in life, without noisy house party, changes
Of wine, midnight gambling, stale London
gossip snd a retinue of mercenary servants
Those were the days when men went North be-
cause they loved the breath Of the moors. the
rattle OF the guns and the softaess Of misty
atmosphere. and not because it was smart
thing 10 dc and it was necessary TO keep up
with the best set Gamekeepers. gihes and
housernaids were not paid by the guests; no
body expected to make money at cards, and
The cost os the shooting visit was never reck-
oned in hard cash. There is a fine glow of en-
.tlusiasm on the veterans face when he repeats
these pleasing "reminiscences of old fashioned
sport and simplicity in entertaining. There is
The new manners with the old
II is however different world from the
veterans vision OF his youth. and not only on
Grouse Day, but all the year round. There is
statelier and more varied order of life for the
rich and there is predatory legislation for the
benefit of the under classes There is now
permanent income tax Of a shilling in the pound
and there are death and succession duties by
which a large fraction Of surplus wealth is
min
Che day, as Lord Avebury has been saying this
week in the Lords. are not SO frankly social
istic as the Fabian Society, since they do not
seize rich mems property all at once, yet they
take l per cent one year and j per cent an
other And the principle and the results are
the same. Social reforms are financed at the
cost Of the great estates without contributions
from those whom they expected u benefit
Ehe Labor party has its definite demands for
work for the unemployed and n pension % ave
shilIings 2 week for every workngnan over
sxty-fve; and SO powerful is IL, with organized
trade uaionism behind il, that ministers cannot
safely oppose it Tic money is 20 be raised by
direct taxation of the few for the benefit of the
many. aid tic weight Of il IS TO Increase IN
proportion w.th The wealth: and the Dead Hand
IL 10 have a stronger grip upon every fortune
wien * passes as an inheritance The tipping
Is not confined 10 the buffers and maids ooun-
try ko=res. anc the gar::ekeepers and gillies az
EfscStinss or The nnoais TE.ose who have any
thing Jay heavy tribute 20 those who have moth
ing; and surplus wealth is scaled down auto
rnat.cai;y and from an eighth to a sixth of If
coallscated outright at Somerset House The
guests al country houses are not harried and
,.-fzs. unfff ding