286 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER 



Had the wittj clergyman been compelled to ride 

 long distances in tlie discharge of his duties he would 

 probably have learned what Nimrod called the ' art 

 of adhesiveness/ that is, the knack of sticking to his 

 saddle. In the back settlements of America, where 

 ministers of the gospel have to travel long distances 

 on horseback, they become quite knowing in all 

 matters concerning horseflesh. Here is the testimony 

 of a leading American periodical concerning these 

 clerical horsemen : 



' There are no better judges of horses than itine- 

 rant preachers in the United States. From the very 

 necessities of their calling they are constantly depen- 

 dent upon their services, and thus, naturally, become 

 acquainted with all their good and bad qualities. We 

 have one of these Backwoods' apostles in our mind's 

 eye, whose circuit was in a south-western state. He 

 was born in Virginia, and I have always suspected 

 that his infant eyes opened upon a race-track. Be 

 that as it may, a certificate of character from him in 

 favour of a horse was of commercial value. Indifferent 

 about his j)ersonal comfort and personal appearance, 

 he insisted upon being well mounted, and seemed 

 always ready to " run the good race." 



' On one occasion he was pressing his way to a 

 meeting when his progress was obstructed by a crowd 

 in the road, engaged in the preliminaries of a scrub- 

 race. Compelled to stop a moment, he involuntarily 

 examined the cattle entered for the sport, and 



