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to see what power man did possess over the dumb brute. I thereupon 

 said to Professor Williams that every man who had to do with horses 

 should be taught the same art, and he said, ' My boy, I am glad to 

 have in you such an interested spectator, and if everybody could so 

 readily see the utility of the methods I use, certainly my labor would 

 not be in vain.' As it was an established rule of Professor Williams 

 that when a man became a member of his class he was constituted a 

 life member, I attended his exhibitions whenever and wherever I could 

 hear of him, and I went to Jamaica, West Townsend, and Wadsboro' 

 City, thereby getting the benefit of four exhibitions. At the last- 

 named place I remarked to Professor Williams that I was going into 

 the business. He laughed at me, and said, * Young man, you will 

 have a great deal to contend with in order to be successful.' " 



Thus the teacher and pupil parted, the latter retaining a copy of 

 Professor Williams' book on horses, which he studied until he knew it 

 almost by heart. Oscar actually began at this time to give exhibitions 

 of horse-training, and was thus engaged when he and his teacher next 

 met. It was on the road, between Jacksonville and Reedsboro', Ver- 

 mont. They greeted each other cordially, and Oscar told the Professor 

 that he was on his way to Reedsboro' to give an exhibition. The other 

 was displeased at this, seeing in his former pupil a competitor, and told 

 him that he must not make use of any of the devices he had learned 

 of him or he would prosecute him. Oscar replied that he was already 

 billed to appear at Reedsboro' and intended to keep the engagement, 

 at no matter what cost. So they parted again, not on their former 

 pleasant terms. When Oscar reached Reedsboro' he found that Wil- 

 liams had been there just before him and had given an exhibition. 

 Consequently his own audience was small, consisting of nine persons, 

 at 50 cents each. At the close of the performance, with the $4.50 in 

 his pocket, he went to his father's home, at West Townsend, and made 

 preparations for another town. His father had a ** buckskin " mare 

 that was a bad balker and kicker. Oscar persuaded him to let him 

 take her and break her. In this the young man succeeded, making 

 her so docile that he could drive her anywhere witjiout bit or reins. 



His second exhibition was given at Wadsworth, Vermont, in August, 

 187G, and the receipts were $22. This encouraged him. But his 

 father looked with doubt and disfavor upon the whole enterprise, nor 

 was his mind changed when, soon after, Oscar returned from his third 



