72 THE ARAB THE HORSE OF THE FUTURE 



of Other honest advisers, will be more effectual as 

 to horse-breeding than the sternness of the reverend 

 gentleman as to gambling till the time for reaction 

 comes — as, with regard to gambling, let us hope 

 that it probably will come, and, with regard to 

 horse-breeding, as it inevitably must come. 



I maintain that the reverend gentlemen who have 

 denounced gambling have a right to scoff when they 

 are told that racing is necessary in order to improve 

 the breed of horses, and I cannot help thinking that 

 they are right when they say that those who 

 patronize racing directly encourage the gambling. 

 Perhaps a few words of Christian exhortation to 

 them might be more profitable than censure. I do 

 not know. The preacher must judge of that. But 

 it is no good to denounce the sinner while he is so 

 largely patronized and supported by the saint. It 

 is useless to denounce the blackleg if Governors and 

 Judges hobnob with him on racecourses. I don't 

 say they do. But the Rev. Mr. Howard, having 

 the courage of his convictions, did say in his 

 sermon that Governors, Judges, and senators were 

 feeding the Frankenstein monster, and plainly im- 

 puted to them that they had become law-breakers. 

 Let us hope not. 



Severe words. I do not adopt them. I fancy 

 they go rather beyond the occasion. I think they 

 are rather too severe. I desire to express no opinion 

 except as to the deterioration of horses and the 

 cause of it. 



