FIFTY YEARS OF A SHOWMAN'S LIFE 



complications, I betook myself to the president (Mr. 

 Hugh Hamersley), chairman of Quarter Sessions, 

 and one of the most influential and active public 

 men in the county. To him I stated the position, 

 and begged him to accept my resignation on the 

 ground that I was quite unequal to the task of 

 piloting the old Society to the haven of success. 

 He listened to all I had to say, and then appealed 

 to me, with that persuasive force which he knew 

 so well how to use, not to desert the helm when 

 the ship was in difficulties, but to stand by her 

 and do my best to pull her through, promising me, 

 if I would do this, all the help and support he 

 could give me. I was touched by this appeal to 

 the sentimental side of my feelings and by the 

 confidence it implied, and so, against my better 

 judgment as I then thought I yielded, not 

 having, on the spur of the moment, the heart to 

 refuse. I little thought then that he was entrust- 

 ing me with a mission which was to be the turning- 

 point of my life, leading to undreamt-of possibilities. 

 Having irrevocably committed myself, I 

 buckled to with the determination that if I had 

 to admit defeat it should not be due to faint- 

 heartedness, and that whatever backers I had 

 should have a run for their money. Although, as 

 I have confessed, I was barren of so much that I 

 ought to have known, my friendly relationships 

 with individual agriculturists from boyhood up- 

 wards had given me an opportunity of acquiring 

 a personal knowledge of bucolic idiosyncrasies, 

 which stood me in good stead. Hence, when, as 

 an official, I was brought into close connection 

 with agriculture and its representatives, I had 



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