FIFTY YEARS OF A SHOWMAN'S LIFE 



pedigree stock, as shown by the large prices 

 realized at auction sales. 



John Thornton, just referred to, whose friend- 

 ship I enjoyed, was the agricultural auctioneer 

 of his day, and he was well entitled to the excep- 

 tional position awarded to him by common con- 

 sent. The very embodiment of integrity and 

 straightforwardness, he had a marvellous know- 

 ledge of stock, whilst his geniality of presence 

 and of manner was in itself sufficient to inspire 

 that cheerful condition of mind most to be 

 desired in bidders. His power of persuasiveness 

 and ready wit stood him in wonderful stead when 

 he had the hammer in hand, while his imper- 

 turbable good humour was equal to any strain 

 put upon it. His method was an object lesson 

 in the art of conducting an agricultural auction 

 sale. 



When in 1878 the Bath and West Society held 

 its annual show at Oxford, I little thought that 

 I should ever have to administer its affairs. At 

 that time I was not only secretary of the Oxford- 

 shire Society, but also editor and manager of the 

 Oxford Journal, the agricultural organ of the 

 county, so I saw a good deal of the show in this 

 dual capacity. When the visit was arranged, 

 I must confess, as secretary of the smaller Society, 

 I viewed the advent of the larger one with some 

 misgivings, and, as the Oxfordshire Society had 

 not been taken into the confidence of the Western 

 Society, with a disposition to give the latter 

 the cold shoulder. But, on second thoughts, 

 it occurred to me that it might pay better to try 

 and make terms. After some negotiation, the 



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