JEWETT FARM 



vertlsement for us, supposing It would be a proper 

 one, and was astonished when I saw over our signa- 

 tures that part of the advertisement which claimed 

 Dexter as a Clay. I know nothing whatever about 

 that question, and should not have been put in such 

 a position. For many reasons I have said nothing, 

 but I want you to understand the matter. Hunting- 

 ton also placed us before the public in such a way 

 as to make it appear we were all Clay, which you 

 must know is not so. I believe in the Clay cross, but 

 I also believe thoroughly in the merits of other fam- 

 ilies — Hambletonian, Mambrino Chief, etc. No in- 

 telligent breeder can take any other position." 



The fiction that Dexter was a Clay, instead of a 

 Hambletonian, was repeated with spiteful perse- 

 verance twenty-odd years ago, but only the weak- 

 minded or poorly Informed take any stock In the 

 story now. Sherman and Coronet, sons of George 

 Wilkes, were added to the Jewett Farm stallions, 

 and then came Homer and Jerome Eddy, and the 

 Clay bubble collapsed. Mr. Hamlin seldom lost an 

 opportunity to fire a shot at Jewett Farm, and I have 

 before me a letter written by Henry C. Jewett, 

 March 31, 1888: 



" I enclose my reply to Mr. Hamlin. I dislike 

 this whole affair very much, and I hope the dis- 

 cussion will not be allowed to degenerate. I shall 

 have mainly to rely on you to control that. I flatter 

 myself that I have some reputation left. I have not 

 so much to gain as I have to lose. I shall appreciate 

 highly any efforts you may make to confine this con- 

 troversy within respectable limits." 



313 



