534 PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. 



the extreme. In fact, the remembrance of this alone is 

 sufficient to inspire a sense of encouragement and faith in 

 human nature, that far outweighs whatever I have experi- 

 enced that has been unpleasant. I am also largely indebted 

 to the ftiithful co-operation of the assistants who were in 

 my employ -for many years. My general manager, Dr. 

 Harlow Williams, who Avas with me over eight years, was 

 always at his post, and by his prudence and faithfulness he 

 rendered me invaluable service. Mr. E. B. Sims, my ad- 

 vance agent over seven years, proved himself one of the 

 most industrious and faithful of men, making his service 

 indispensable. Mr. Thomas Johnson, who was with me 

 over ten years, much of the time acting as my assistant in 

 teaching classes, acquired unusual skill in the subjection of 

 horses, and rendered me good service. 



My health had become so seriously impaired by the 

 great strain to which I had been subjected for so many 

 years, that in the winter of '78 I was compelled to give up 

 my business. I now concluded to carry out, at my leisure, 

 the purpose which had for some years been developing in 

 my mind, that of writing up the full details of my system, 

 including such knowledge as I believed most valuable to 

 horse owners for reference.* 



This work is not only the first of the kind pubHshed 

 explaining the art of taming and educating horses, but it 

 is the practical outgrowth of my experience. In its writ- 

 ing I have not only aimed to give the fullest explanation 

 of my principles and methods of management with all the 

 details carefully classified, but as an additional aid I have 



*The difficulties of doing this can be better understood when I state that in 

 the first place I am not a practical writer, and that owing to cerebral inflammation 

 I have not been able to write a single page of this book with my own hand, nor 

 read any part of it for revision or correction. It has been patiently dictated by me 

 to a copyist, then read for revision, thereby making the work of its writing and ar- 

 ranging extremely laborious and difficult. 



