366 A HISTORY OF SHORT-HORN CATTLE. 



eye of some; but "sweet" heads, are not spe- 

 cially to be desired in breeding bulls. His eye 

 was remarkably mild, his neck short, his shoul- 

 ders smooth and his chine and back good. He 

 was rather high at root of tail and wanted 

 filling at the flank; but he was well balanced 

 in essential points, had a mellow hide and 

 one of the silkiest coats of hair ever seen. 

 In disposition he was so quiet that a child 

 could handle him, in this respect resembling 

 his great-grand sire Mario, a bull that Judge 

 Jones states never required a nose-ring. 



Of the career of Gen. Grant in the show-ring 

 it is scarcely necessary to speak at length. In 

 the hands of Mr. McMillan he was exhibited in 

 Ohio and Indiana up to and including his fifth 

 year, and in all that time met with but one de- 

 feat.* Passing into the possession of Mr. Spears 

 he was shown with his get all over the West, 

 capturing the highest honors in competition 

 that would astonish some exhibitors at the 



*An amusing incident occurred one year when Mr. Spears exhibited 

 Gen. Grant at the head of his herd at the Illinois State Fair at Peoria. 

 He was the oldest and perhapc the largest bull in the ring at the head 

 of a herd. As the regularly-appointed committee failed to respond to the 

 call the superintendent concluded that he would send in a committee 

 composed of strangers to the exhibitors. As there was a big show on this 

 action rather startled the exhibitors. When the " unknowns ' started in 

 Mr. Byram of Abingdon, 111., who was showing his mother's herd, said to 

 Mr. Spears : " Who's that committee? " Mr. Spears looked a long time, and 

 not knowing any of them said : " I do not know, but I think they are a lot of 

 shoemakers antL tailors." When after examining the herds they brought the 

 first-prize ribbon to Mr. Spears Mr. Byram said: '> What do you think of 

 them now? " "Well," said Spears, "I reckon they thought my bull's hide 

 would make more shoes than any bull in the ring." 



