HORSE DEALERS. 361 



thoroughfares. An animal is often secreted for months before it is 

 permitted to "show abroad," and it is then expected, like a beauty at 

 Almack's, "to ravish the eyes of all beholders." Lastly, the dealer in 

 horses has to endure those checks and disappointments which attend 

 upon every known speculation with life. 



Then, if not sold, the quadrupeds nevertheless must be fed. Thus 

 several, before they meet a purchaser, "have eaten their own heads off 

 twice over;" or, in the language of ordinary life, have for provender 

 cost more than their selling value. No reflective man can, therefore, 

 anticipate a London dealer is to dispose of his stock-in-trade at what is 

 implied by "reasonable prices." Some animals may fetch double or 

 treble the purchase money; but the majority do little beyond paying 

 their expenses. Nevertheless, as the dealer makes the selection, his 

 judgment may be taunted, should he not choose horses that shall prove 

 remunerative. 



We shall, however, best judge of the enormous profits attending this 

 pursuit by considering results, as exemplified in the wealth of individuals. 

 Perhaps for every man who succeeds in the business, three persons 

 attempt it and become bankrupts. The fourth man may do a large 

 trade; and, spite of the fickleness of fashion or the accidents of the 

 London season, may maintain a position for several years. But how 

 seldom is society startled by hearing of a deceased horse dealer having 

 left behind him any vast sum of money to "his heirs and assigns !" On 

 the other hand, the author knows of many instances where reputed 

 thriving dealers have refused to rear their children to their own caUing. 

 Such acts do not denote horse dealing to be a highly lucrative specula- 

 tion. Judging from long experience, the author would not point to the 

 dealers of London, as a body, remarkable for the possession of any con- 

 siderable amount of property. 



Carriage horses no London tradesman professes to keep. Thus one 

 source of profit is relinquished; but should a pair of extraordinary 

 beauties be encountered, when "on the travel," these will be secured; 

 because the dealer knows there is always a market for such commodities. 

 The treaty for the transfer of these rarities may even have been con- 

 cluded before the prizes reached the marketable age ; for, as a rule, 

 extraordinary quadrupeds are seldom brought into the common market 

 It is an ambition with the trade to point to a pair of showy bays in Her 

 Majesty's stables, or before the vehicle of an exclusive nobleman, and to 

 boast "those horses came from his yard." Of such scarce opportunities 

 every dealer will joyfully avail himself; but there are many cogent 

 ••easons which prevent him from constantly keeping his stables supplied 

 with the ordinary kind of carriage quadrupeds. 



