Introduction 



greatest political contest on record in this division, speaks 

 volumes for his great popularity, and the trust he inspired both 

 in politics and sport. 



The turn of my husband's mind was towards a country life, 

 and all that goes with it : all through our happy time together, 

 it seemed impossible for us to dissociate ourselves from the love 

 we both had for country sports of all kinds. Riding, hunting, 

 attending race-meetings and horse shows, were to us the natural 

 outcome of our lives, and it was a never-failing delight to me to 

 see my husband handle a horse. I have never known him 

 beaten by any horse he attempted to ride. Many a time I have 

 seen him mount an apparently unmanageable animal — at a show 

 when he was judging — and after he had taken him round the 

 ring two or three times, that same horse would not only behave 

 himself in a proper fashion, but would show himself and his 

 paces to the best advantage, to the amazement of the onlookers, 

 and to the delighted surprise of his owner. 



He had perfect hands, and could do practically what he 

 would with his mount. I have never seen him lose his temper 

 with a horse, even with the most irritating specimen. He 

 possessed that power with horses which gives the true 

 horseman that inexplicable sympathy between the rider and 

 his horse making them one, and which, to a great extent, 

 explains his success both in the hunting-field and on the 

 race-course. 



In writing this short introductory chapter, I must cordially 

 thank, not only the author of the book for her labour of love, but 

 also my husband's other old friends (school-fellows, college 

 friends, and those of his later life) who have so ably assisted the 

 author with their knowledge of his career. 



In conclusion, I trust that the contents of this book may 

 appeal not only to those readers who in the past came in contact 



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