ROMANCE OF THE DUKES AND DUCHESSES 105 



Mr. HOPE was for many years a prominent figure 

 in the American shows and salerings, and the herd 

 in his charge was fortunate in the possession of 

 probably the best of all the latter-day Duchess bulls 

 in North America the imported 4th Duke of Clar- 

 ence, not only a good show bull, but a prepotent sire, 

 one of the most noted of his get being the white 

 steer Clarence Kirklevington, champion alive and on 

 the block at the American Fat Stock Show of 1884. 

 HOPE was completely wrapped up in "the Duke," 

 and always spoke of him in terms of the most af- 

 fectionate regard. I have known many cases of 

 strong attachment of a master for a pet horse or 

 hound, but HOPE'S feelings toward the 4th Duke 

 of Clarence seemed deeper than I have ever ob- 

 served elsewhere on the part of an owner or herds- 

 man toward a beast of the bovine species. And 

 when the end came for poor JOHN who under the 

 spell of an insufferable nervous depression com- 

 mitted suicide in 1894 he betook himself to the 

 old Duke's box to end his own sufferings. HOPE 

 was of English birth, a good all-around judge of 

 farm animals, experienced in all the arts of show- 

 manship, and, as evidenced by the act just men- 

 tioned, was full of sentiment. Unfortunately, he was 

 identified with a sinking ship so far as the financ- 



