156 BUYING. 



After having made an investment, if the new owner de- 

 cides, for some reason or without reason, to part with his 

 adviser's choice he ought not to add insult to injury by as- 

 suming that it is the latter's duty to find a buyer or to effect 

 an exchange as compensation for having failed in the at- 

 tempt. It is more likely that his adviser would gain addi- 

 tional disfavor by any further effort. 



In connection with the execution of a purchase by a 

 friend the question often arises, " How can I express my ap- 

 preciation of the trouble he has taken in my behalf ? " The 

 average gentleman expert is more than satisfied to have 

 served you to your liking, but a note of thanks, accompanied 

 by some small token of your gratitude, such as a walking 

 stick, flask or cigar cutter, serves as a permanent tribute to 

 his knowledge of horse flesh and one which he will prize 

 for its significance rather than for its intrinsic value. 



It more often happens that a novice, instead of having a 

 friend to aid him, is dependent upon his own or his coach- 

 man's resources for buying one or more horses, and is forced 

 to go through the trying ordeal of purchasing without hav- 

 ing the slightest qualification for the task. Hence it is that 

 among the motley crowd of buyers at sale stables there are 

 always to be found representatives of the two opposite types 

 of purchasers : first, the experienced and cautious buyer ; and 

 second, the ignorant but self-satisfied wiseacre. The lat- 

 ter is the natural victim of even honest dealers. Such men 

 are but human, and if they have had the misfortune to get 

 an inferior nag into their hands, they will take the first oppor- 

 tunity of passing him off. If a buyer, by his manner, gives 

 the dealer to understand that he is distrusted, that individ- 

 ual is far more likely to " land the buyer " than he would if 



