FIFTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART IV 275 



It is noted in the foregoing list of judges that the names of two gentle- 

 men appear that are practically newcomers as show ring officials. Thos. 

 E. Wilson was present, assisting George Pepper in placing the ribbons 

 on hunters and jumpers, and Mr. Arthur G. Leonard was assigned to the 

 Morgan breeding classes. Mr. "Wilson is an enthusiast on riding hunters 

 and owns a number of them that have won at prominent shows. He is 

 chairman of the South Show Club Horse Show of Chicago, and, in a 

 business way, is the directing head of Morris & Company, a firm not 

 entirely unheard of in almost any part of the world. In the case of 

 Mr. Leonard, it is surmised that his acceptance of the judging of Morgans 

 was a bit of pleasant euphemism for a sadly needed relief from his 

 onerous duties as the head of that gigantic enterprise included under the 

 general title of The Union Stock Yards and Transit Co. of Chicago. 

 Morgan horses have been an example of diminishing greatness in this 

 country, but behind all of the great live stock shows of America is the 

 immeasurably modest but equally measureless genius and dominant 

 personality of one of America's really great men. Unobtrusive, and 

 rarely in the spot light of publicity, nevertheless millions of money and 

 the daily destinies of countless thousands of men are affected in no 

 small degree to their constant betterment by the brilliant brain, far 

 seeing sagacity, sterling character and patriotic citizenship of Arthur 

 G. Leonard. 



No account of this show would be adequate without proper credit being 

 given to the real director of its practical presentment. When one attends 

 the theater, there is, somewhere behind the scenes, unseen and un- 

 heralded, one in whose hands the whole movement of the affair is placed 

 and upon whose ability the conscious feeling of perfect satisfaction of 

 the audience depends. Just so with a big horse show. When the show 

 goes smoothly, with a lot of "pep" and ginger, one class in as another 

 goes out, and time schedules running like a railway time card, it is very 

 likely that Thomas W. Bell of Chicago is standing just on the edge of 

 things, as he was at Des Moines, and as he has been since before the 

 days of the old Chicago Coliseum shows. In a class by himself and 

 without an equal. 



EXHIBITORS AXD THEIR HORSES. 



In the harness horse division competition was largely confined to the 

 stables of Mr. and Mrs. O. J. Mooers, of Columbia, Mo.; John R. Thomp- 

 son, of Chicago; George J. Peak & Son, of Winchester, LU. ; Houchin & 

 Anderson, of Jefferson City, Mo.; Chas. E. Bunn, Peoria, 111.; A. L. 

 Champlin, Ames, Iowa, and a number of others who had occasional entries 

 as well in these events as in others where they fitted more properly. The 

 real contests were between Mooers, Thompson, Peak and Houchin. 

 Mooers' stable was fairly complete, with an even dozen head, ten of 

 which fitted into the various harness events, he frequently having three 

 entries in a class, and not infrequently leaving the ring with three 

 premiums, which, more than once, were first, second and third. Advance 

 Guard was his best winner, finally landing the championship. This is a 

 well known horse, registered in both the standard bred and Morgan 



