Then the tenants were in effect ordered
to farm to the highest pitch, and to improve the soil itself by liberal
investment. Buildings, drains, and so forth were provided for them; they
only had to pay a small percentage upon the money expended in
construction. In this there was nothing that could be complained of; but
the hard, mechanical, unbending spirit in which it was done--the absence
of all kind of sympathy--caused a certain amount of discontent. The
steward next proceeded to turn the mansion, the park, home farm, and
preserves into revenue.
Everything was prepared to attract the wealthy man who wanted the
temporary use of a good country house, first-class shooting and hunting.
He succeeded in doing what few gentlemen have accomplished: he made the
pheasants pay. One reason, of course, was that gentlemen have expenses
outside and beyond breeding and keeping: the shooting party itself is
expensive; whereas here the shooting party paid hard cash for their
amusement. The steward had no knowledge of pheasants; but he had a wide
experience of one side of human nature, and he understood accounts.
The keepers were checked by figures at every turn, finding it impossible
to elude the businesslike arrangements that were made. In revenue the
result was highly successful. The mansion with the first-class shooting,
hunting, and lovely woodlands--every modern convenience and comfort in
the midst of the most rural scenery--let at a high price to good
tenants.
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