HISTORY OF THE LINLITHGOW 



should not close my mouth against a word in 

 favour of my brown mare, Lady Lome. . . . She 

 made good her character to the admiration of 

 many, and refreshed mine, though it was never 

 much tarnished hy long tear a7id ivear. She kept 

 me in first fiight from find to finish, as was well 

 seen and much remarked.'' 



The words in italics are underlined in the Minute- 

 book, and opposite them, in the handwriting of 

 Mr T. E. 0. Home, is the amusing comment "Oh 

 Barstow, you Trumpeter ! " But it is right to 

 mention that although the " Old Sportsman " 

 plumed himself in this way, he really rode to 

 hounds very well considering his years, and did 

 generously commemorate the doings of others. 

 Thus he tells of Mr Blackwood's well-known leap 

 on Lady Emma over the railway gates near 

 Drumshoreland, describing the circumstances as 

 follows : — 



" This [a branch railway] was enclosed by a 

 high and strong wire fence utterly ' un negotiable.' 

 There was a level crossing, but shut off by a 

 high and strong white-painted gate on either side 

 of the rail. Not probably thinking of the danger, 

 one of our very determined riders went at the gate 

 over on to the rails. His mare flew it beautifully 

 — many anticipating a heavy fall ; but over again 

 he went the opposite gate also, landing from both 

 safely. Had the mare touched the gate either 

 with fore or hind legs, she must have brought 

 herself as well as rider to grief. But he had 



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