FIFTY YEARS OF A SHOWMAN'S LIFE 



making a sudden bolt for the exit gates in order 

 to catch up the rest of the procession. In justice 

 to all concerned, I ought perhaps to say that the 

 Society was not responsible for either the horses 

 or the vehicles. I was given to understand that 

 the Marchioness was the Master of the Horse in 

 the Hatfield establishments. I have seldom felt 

 happier or more relieved than I did that day 

 when I saw the last carriage load of notabilities 

 safely out of the show yard. 



The St. Albans meeting brought me into con- 

 tact with the late Lord Salisbury, then Prime 

 Minister, but more particularly with his devoted 

 helpmeet, the late Marchioness, whose special 

 mission in life was to save the Marquis from every 

 possible preventable care or anxiety outside the 

 region of Parliament. At Hatfield itself, she not 

 only reigned but governed, so far as its internal 

 economy was concerned, and was also a factor 

 to be reckoned with in respect to not a few matters 

 outside of it. This accounted for her visiting me 

 in the show yard a few days before the show in 

 order to discuss general arrangements. She opened 

 the ball by making it known to me that she held 

 me responsible for all happenings to the Royal 

 party and suite from the time they left Hatfield 

 for the show yard until on their return they had 

 re-entered the park gates of the mansion. I lost 

 no time in inducing a different impression by 

 assuring her ladyship, with all the deference at 

 my disposal, that my responsibilities began and 

 ended with the show yard itself, which was as 

 much as I was equal to. As such a limitation of 

 my duties took the Marchioness entirely by 



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