840 A HISTORY OF SHORT-HORN CATTLE. 



late the example of the master builders of the 

 breed, or is he to drift aimlessly upon the tide 

 of some passing fashion, content to be a mere 

 peddler of pedigrees? Is Short-horn breeding 

 a business worthy of the best efforts of intell- 

 gent men, or is it simply a traffic in herd-book 

 certificates? Is there inspiration and a love 

 for original creative work to be found in the 

 great achievements of the past, or are there 

 only chains and shackles for those who engage 

 in the trade in this day and generation ? The 

 closing century is not without its lessons bear- 

 ing upon these and kindred considerations, and 

 a few plainly stated deductions from the ex- 

 periences of those who have gone before may 

 be found helpful in examining the duties, re- 

 sponsibilities and privileges of those who have 

 the future of the Short-horn in their keeping. 

 What constitutes success? It might ap- 

 pear at first blush that the auction block is the 

 one crucial test of success, but this is true only 

 when averages for a long series of years are 

 considered. The operations of powerful vested 

 financial interests occasionally rule the mar- 

 ket without special reference to intrinsic values. 

 Again many a splendid animal, many a grand 

 herd has failed to meet with adequate appre- 

 ciation because of lack of enterprise on the 

 part of the owner, or through the machinations 

 of those little souls who are either jealous of a 



