270 SOME YORKSHIRE SHORTHORNS. 



better form than he did with the handsome trio 

 to which we have just aUuded. 



By no means inchned to hide his light under 

 a bushel, Mr. Outhwaite's good natured egotism 

 never caused him the least bit of unpopularity, 

 but on one occasion it nearly got him into a 

 scrape, which only his skill and shrewdness pre- 

 vented. There had been a fat stock show at Rich- 

 mond and a fat sow belonging to him had been 

 overlooked, much to his disgust. At the market 

 dinner there was considerable controversy on the 

 subject, and several bottles of the landlord's 

 choicest port were discussed, as well as the merits 

 of the various exhibits. In the evenino- the dis- 

 cussion naturally waxed warmer, and at length 

 Mr. Outhwaite said he would bet 100 guineas 

 that his sow weighed some impossible weight or 

 would do so in a fortnight.* In a sporting place 

 like Kichmond so sporting an offer was sure to be 

 accepted, and Mr. R. M. Jaques was eager to 

 back the scales. A bet was soon made and con- 

 ditions were drawn up, and then Mr. Outhwaite, 

 who, to use a slang phrase, knew well enough he 

 had the *' top weight up," ordered his gig and, 

 although the night was young, refused all the 

 persuasions of his friends to stay longer, but set 

 off to look after '' t' auld sew." On his arrival 



'-'■' The weight Mr. Hutchiusou, who was our iuforiuaut, does 

 not remember exactly, but it was somewhere about fifty or sixty 

 stones imperial. 



