IX 



LETTER FROM JOSEPH CAIRIN" SIMPSOIST. 



The following interesting letter is from the author 



of "Tips and Toe-Weights;" "Horse Portraiture," 



etc., and breeder and trainer of Anteeo, 2:16J, and 



Antevolo, 2:19J. 



Oakland, Cal., Feb. 7, 1890. 

 Leslie E. Macleod, Esq. 



My Deak Sir : Agreeably to your request, I send tliis sliort 

 • etter, in relation to mv opinion of Cliarles Marvin as an edu- 

 rjator and driver of trotters. It is always a pleasant task to me to 

 write words of commendation wlien there is merit to warrant 

 eulogistic phrases, and that Mr. Marvin presents a case exactly to my 

 mind, those who are as well acquainted with him, his methods, 

 and, above all, his strict honor and integrity, as I am, will concede. 



Personally, the acquaintance dates from Mr. Marvin's residence in 

 California, though before I left the East, now nearly sixteen years 

 ago, I had received letters which gave me an insight into his character 

 and his ability as the handler of trotters. 



It will not be out of place to rehearse how that knowledge was 

 obtained. In 1873, I was employed, by Charles Schvv-artz and A. S. 

 Gage, to take charge of Dexter Park, which those gentlemen had 

 rented of Messrs. Sherman and Tucker. During the early summer 

 I received several letters from the owner of Smuggler, giving full 

 descriptions of the horse, his rapid improvement under the charge of 

 Marvin, in fact, a minute account of whatever would be likely to 

 interest a purchaser. As a "token of good faith" he offered to 

 deposit, to my order, whatever funds were required for the expenses 

 of the trip, remuneration to whoever made the journey, and if the 

 truth of his statement was not fully endorsed by the facts, the funds 



