THE Y.M.C.A. 



with undoubted success, and the relations between 

 the Society and the Association were then, and 

 have been ever since, of the most amicable and 

 harmonious character, whilst the value of the 

 innovation, as supplying a distinct want, was fully 

 recognized. The knowledge I thus acquired of 

 the aims and methods of the Association brought 

 home to me the value of its work, and later on 

 was a factor in inducing me, so far as I was able, 

 to lend a helping hand by taking an active interest 

 in the Bath Branch as its president. Those for 

 whom the accommodation in the yard is provided 

 make good use of it. On the occasion of its first 

 introduction one of the herdsmen said that he 

 had attended shows for twenty-five years, and had 

 never before written home during a show, but that 

 when he found pens, ink, and paper ready to hand, 

 and a suitable place in which to use them, he sat 

 down on the Sunday and wrote to his children. 

 Newspapers, magazines, stationery, games, etc., 

 are provided free of cost to the users, and the tent 

 has many of the conveniences and attractions of 

 a social club. I hope such an institution will 

 always find a place in the Society's show yards. 



Since writing this chapter, I have received, as 

 a memento of the kind-hearted steward, a hand- 

 some silver cigarette case, with the following in- 

 scription : " Presented to Col. the Hon. C. Byng by 

 the Shorthorn Herdsmen at the Bath and West 

 Society's Show at Newport, 1907." Knowing the 

 colonel's horror of anything suggestive of self- 

 advertisement, I have abstained from disclosing 

 his name until now. 



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