FIFTY YEARS OF A SHOWMAN'S LIFE 



The crowning beverage of an agricultural 

 feast, when the wines, having fulfilled their 

 mission, had been finally disposed of, was at 

 this time lemonade and gin. Its popularity was 

 on one occasion during the early days of my 

 association with the Oxfordshire Agricultural 

 Society . so forcibly brought home to me that 

 the recollection of it is still fresh in my mind 

 after this long lapse of years. It was the custom 

 on the night previous to the opening-day of the 

 show for the stewards and judges to meet to- 

 gether round the festive board for the enjoy- 

 ment of a real good, old-fashioned, substantial 

 dinner. For the ordering of this I was responsible, 

 the cost being defrayed by the Society, and very 

 properly, as it was but a small acknowledgment 

 of an immense amount of voluntary work. With 

 my knowledge of those who would partake of it, 

 I was well aware that both meat and drink must 

 be on a generous scale, and my anxiety, having 

 regard for the Society's funds, was to supply 

 just sufficient, without overdoing it, and yet to 

 afford no ground for complaint. On this particular 

 occasion, having been very busy all day in the 

 show yard, I had had no time before dinner was 

 served to inspect the bedroom reserved for me 

 at the hotel, which was our headquarters and the 

 local of the dinner. In misplaced confidence, I 

 contented myself therefore with an assurance 

 from the landlord that a comfortable apartment 

 was reserved for me, and dismissed the matter 

 from my mind till bedtime. 



Being unusually tired after a long spell of hard 

 work and anxious to be fresh for the next day's 



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