AT HOME 355 



which were named after naval heroes and friendly ecclesi- 

 astical dignitaries an Episcopalian Bishop, a Catholic 

 Priest, and my own Dutch Reformed Pastor Bishop 

 Doane, Father O'Grady, Dr. Johnson, Fighting Bob 

 Evans, and Admiral Dewey. Father O'Grady, by the 

 way, proved to be of the softer sex; a fact definitely estab- 

 lished when two of his joint owners, rushing breathless 

 into the room, announced to a mixed company, " Oh, oh, 

 Father O'Grady has had some children 1 " 



Of course there are no pets like horses; and horse- 

 manship is a test of prowess. The best among vigorous 

 out-of-door sports should be more than pastimes. Play 

 is good for play's sake, within moderate limits, especially 

 if it is athletic play; and, again within moderate limits, 

 it is good because a healthy body helps toward healthi- 

 ness of mind. But if play serves only either of these 

 ends, it does not deserve the serious consideration which 

 rightly attaches to play which in itself fits a man to do 

 things worth doing; and there exists no creature much 

 more contemptible than a man past his first youth who 

 leads a life devoted to mere sport, without thought of the 

 serious work of life. In a free Government the average 

 citizen should be able to do his duty in war as well as in 

 peace; otherwise he falls short. Cavalrymen and infan- 

 trymen, who do not need special technical knowledge, are 

 easily developed out of men who are already soldiers in 

 the rough, that is, who, in addition to the essential quali- 

 ties of manliness and character, the qualities of resolution, 

 daring and intelligence, which go to make up the " fight- 

 ing edge," also possess physical hardihood; who can live 



