OR, The Turn Out. 41 



by a firm in town ; but, thanks to the disguise assumed, the 

 writer was ushered into — the cellar (or underground stock- 

 rcofnj, which seemed more like a lumber-hole, and the gas 

 being turned on, to see — not fifty sets, but a hundred and 

 fifty oddments, not altogether confined to the saddlery 

 trade — including, broken boxes, old and rusty hames, second- 

 hand gears, cheap pilches, and second-hand ladies' saddles, 

 a quatity of damaged cart collars, all smothered with dirt 

 and spider webs ; and the first invitation was delivered in a 

 light and happy tone ; — Come, Buy the lot I Clear me 

 out ! ! " — but on being asked for a view of the fifty sets, the 

 expression of the man (whom, being the seller, we will call 

 Mr. S.) was altered, and a more patronising and whining or 

 whimpering voice was assumed, the excuse being that his 

 assistant had made a mistake in the advertisement ; the 

 number should have been Jive instead of fiftt/, four of which 

 he had just disposed of; at the same time opening a rough 

 box which lay on the damp floor, and which contained the 

 only complete set upon the premises. On our wishing or 

 preferring to see it out of the box, we were told that if we 

 had any knowledge of our requirements, we could tell at a 

 glance what it was as the harness lay, and save the trouble 

 of unpacking and repacking. The fact is, the business of 

 the seller is not to expose the miserable make, and the light 

 and flimsy manner in which it has been specially put or 

 blowii together for him, and his Saturday night banterings. 

 Such leather is known by the trade as " goose hide, or 

 tripe," instead of good solid material cut out of prime 

 harness backs, or butts. In reply to the query as to the 

 furniture, the answer was " Silver on German," meaning the 

 one Buckle only — that which the seller had just placed his 

 finger upon as it lay uppermost in the box— viz. : the 

 Crupper Buckle, this buckle being fixed there for that 

 special and evasive purpose. The fact is, the furniture 

 was simply the commonest iron electro-plated, and in a very 

 short time would have shown quite black, as soon as the 

 thin coating of silver had been taken ofi" by the first breeze. 

 And it must be remembered that this man's dealings are 

 never completed in the presence of a third party. His price 

 commenced at nine guineas, and in about four minutes came 

 down to five pounds, without any solicitation on the part of 

 the writer, such being the usual "Cheap John" system of 

 saving time. On our giving the horse's size as sixteen 

 hands, the reply was that the harness would fit like a glove, 

 and as true and easy as though it had been measured for, 

 which augurs well for his judgment when he tells you the 



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