CLOSING EVENTS OF THE CENTURY. 783 



Col. Moberley's new bull, that I thought I would come to Peoria 

 and see the fun." Such was the explanation of their unaccus- 

 tomed presence at an Illinois State Fair made to the writer by 

 something less than a thousand cattle-growers from different 

 States who have not been in the habit of attending the big shows. 

 The leading professional breeders were there as a matter of 

 course. Indeed everybody and his neighbor seemed to be present 

 when the ring for aged bulls was called, and those who could not 

 arrive in time telegraphed freely their regrets. The excitement 

 was at fever heat. It was indeed to be. a "battle royal," and it 

 can be truthfully asserted that the enthusiasm engendered by this 

 meeting of the two greatest show bulls of recent years in the 

 West has kindled an interest in the breeding and exhibition of 

 good Short-horns, and spurred the flagging energies of prominent 

 showmen in a manner quite unknown since the days of Col. King's 

 triumphal tour, which culminated so many years ago under that 

 famous canvas at St. Louis. 



Cupbearer son of the great Rob Roy, sire of the rising English 

 champion Challenge Cup, and victor in half a hundred fields was 

 first in position. "He can't be beaten" was the emphatic pro. 

 nouncement as the superbly-poised and admirably-finished form 

 of Mr. Householder's famous bull was fairly settled to receive the 

 shock of show-yard assault ; and while the crowed feasted their 

 eyes upon his noble outline Messrs. Henn and Wilhoit entered the 

 lists with Phenomenon and Goldstick both reds, both wearers of 

 championship honors, both in good form, but both unequal to the 

 task of closing with such "sluggers" as confronted them upon 

 this occasion. "One story's good till another's told." One fa- 

 vorite receives our plaudits till another comes upon the scene. 

 Cupbearer's triumph was complete till Young Abbottsburn was 

 drawn into the yard. From the moment the mighty roan entered 

 the ring the champion of 1888 and 1889 was on the defensive. The 

 hero of Detroit, Columbus and Indianapolis, with his world of 

 flesh and substance, seemed to fill the entire arena. By compari- 

 son Phenomenon (heavy as he is) seemed to shrink into a pigmy ; 

 Goldstick's "bit fault" (standing a trifle away from the ground) 

 grew into something which it is not, and Cupbearer himself began 

 to lose perceptibly in breadth of beam. An attack is apt to be 

 more confidently undertaken than a defense. Moberley had given 

 instructions to his herdsmen to await the entrance of the king and 

 challenge him on whatever ground he might select, and the nearer 

 this spot was reached the more apparent became the fact that a 

 new idol was about to be set up. True the showy Duthie bull had 



