CAUSES OF SUCCESS. 29 



show, and the annual show is, according to my experience, 

 a necessity. Emulation is the stimulus, with which we 

 cannot dispense. My Lord won't ride his best hunter over 

 a nasty brook, when nobody is there to see; and Bill Smith 

 won't dig and delve after work hours, if no one is to admire 

 his big potatoes. Large and lovely is the rhubarb of Jones, 

 but never so large, never so lovely, as Avhen it rests 

 beside the rhubarb of Robinson, having won the premier 

 prize. Alas ! to win premier prizes men are tempted 

 to be dishonest, and they fall. '^ If you please, sir. 

 Bob Filch went a-cadging miles and miles for them cut 

 flowers as won last show." '* Lor bless your reverence, I 

 knows for a fact that Jim A gave Jack B one and nine for 

 that Senateur Vaisse in his six." And his reverence, more- 

 over, knows for fact, that Roses have not only been begged and 

 bought, but stolen, just before a show. His reverence could 

 name some of his Nottingham friends who have slept in their 

 greenhouses, fearing a raid, for nights before the contest 

 came. This very Society of St Ann has a sub-committee to 

 inspect the gardens of exhibitors, and to prevent imposture. 

 Discouraging facts ! but so it is discouraging to note certain 

 infirmities of slothfulness, selfishness, and ignorance in our 

 daily life ; and when we have made ourselves just such 



