A GOLDEN AGE. 495 



an aggregate sum of money which more than 

 reimbursed him for his extraordinary outlay at 

 Dunmore. This was indeed an outstanding 

 example of the fact that if one is certain of 

 his premises in seeking to estimate the proba- 

 ble value of a stock bull it is difficult to place 

 any limit within reasonable bounds upon the 

 price to be paid. 



This sale was conducted by Mr. John Thorn- 

 ton, whose maiden effort on the auction block 

 had been made at Rugby in 1868, in the em- 

 ploy of the Rev. John Storer of Hellidon. * A 

 list of the animals that brought $2,000 or up- 

 ward is presented below, the English values 

 being reduced to their current equivalent in 

 American gold: 



COWS AND HEIFERS. 



Red Rose of the Isles, red, calved March 9, 1870; bred by 

 Abram Renick, Kentucky; got by Airdrie 2478, dam 

 Duchess 3d by Dandy Duke Lord Bective $11,658 



Marchioness of Oxford 3d, white, calved March 3, 1873 ; got 

 by 2d Duke of Collingham (23730) out of 8th Maid of Ox- 

 ford by 2d Duke of Geneva Duke of Manchester 10,821 



* The Hellidon sale was indeed a red-letter day in Mr. Thornton's career. 

 Storer was quite an authority on Short-horns at that time and actively 

 identified with the fortunes of the Booths. In common with Messrs. Torr, 

 Ayhuer, Booth and their friends Mr. Storer felt that Strafford, who was at 

 this date the presiding genius at all the great Short-horn sales, was too 

 active in behalf of the breeders of Bates cattle. Thornton was in Straf- 

 ford's employ, and the idea of encouraging a paid helper to usurp the 

 throne of his employer was an unheard-of thing in England among such 

 conservative men of means as were represented by the backers of the 

 Booths. Nevertheless the Booth men brought Thornton out at the Helli- 

 don sale, and, although it was bis first attempt with the sand glass, he 

 proved his fitness for the work by keeping cool even under circumstances 

 calculated to excite an old hand. 



