THE CALL OF A DISTANT PAST 281 



whatever himself about such things, but he had a 

 very keen realization of the necessity of having the 

 work bomb-proof. The "Journal" was the great 

 authority by this time, and its editorial utterances 

 must be carefully weighed before being expressed. 

 I am quite sure that he at first looked upon the 

 proposal that I tackle this job as more or less of a 

 joke. And yet he evidently thought it possible that 

 in a pinch I might get out something that it would 

 do to print. So a few days later I handed in my 

 maiden effort. I was sure enough of my facts. I 

 had not slaved for several years over those inter- 

 minable rows of herd books all for nothing. I had 

 pedigrees drilled into my head so mercilessly that 

 to this day, after nearly forty years, the numbers 

 of all the more important breeding bulls from the 

 time of Hubback down to 14th Duke of Thorne- 

 dale come into my mind instantly at the mere 

 mention of the animal's name; and in most instances 

 I could fill in if required, without consulting the 

 books, both the English and American numbers in 

 cases where bulls were recorded on both sides the 

 water. This is mentioned, not as anything specially 

 remarkable, but merely by way of emphasizing the 

 thoroughness of the "grinding" process through 

 which I passed in this work from 1876 to 1880. 



