FIFTY YEARS OF A SHOWMAN'S LIFE 



in the land of the living. He went out of farming 

 many years ago, but since then has used his pen 

 to good purpose, giving the world, by means of it, 

 the benefit of his practical experience, as the 

 Journal of the Bath and West Society amply 

 testifies. In addition to this, the Central Chamber 

 of Agriculture is indebted to him for one of the 

 best of secretaries in the person of his son, A. H. H. 

 Matthews, whose ability and services were not 

 long since recognized by the conferment upon him 

 of a knighthood. 



After the success at Witney there was no 

 further need for anxiety as to a place of meeting, 

 for there was always an invitation forthcoming, 

 and we were able to arrange a regular circuit of 

 towns, which allowed of the different quarters of 

 the county having the show in turn. This was 

 good evidence of the improved status of the 

 Society and its power to attract popular support. 



But, although there is much truth in the saying 

 that " nothing succeeds like success," we felt 

 that that would not justify a relaxation of effort. 

 We had, in the phraseology of our school-days, 

 to " keep the pot a-bilin'," and, as an old show- 

 man, I can testify that there is no more finality 

 in show programmes than in mundane affairs 

 generally. So, encouraged by the fortune that 

 favoured us, we went full-steam ahead on a 

 progressive road. Having increased the number 

 of stock classes and correspondingly the amount 

 of prize-money, we launched out into a two-days 

 show, and carried out the building of the show 

 yard upon a much more complete and elaborate 

 scale than previously. All this, with a general 



48 



