ARBITRARY PAYMENT OF TRAINING ACCOUNTS. 217 



for whose accommodation the bill has been taken, and im- 

 plore him to take it up ; but he either cannot or will not, and 

 it is renewed with about as much probability of being met as 

 in the first instance. In sum, when ultimately paid at the 

 end of some two years, you find you have been training other 

 people's horses for nothing. 



I do not say that this unsatisfactory practice is general, but 

 I do not hesitate to affirm that it is too frequent. Nor is it 

 only the impecunious who settle their long-standing accounts 

 in this ruinous fashion, for with them it is in a measure 

 inevitable and therefore excusable. 



I have trained for a gentleman whose reported income is 

 over ;^ 30,000 a year, who has paid me in this way, renewing 

 from time to time, without paying or adding the interest. I 

 remember training for a nobleman (to whose acts of kindness 

 I am much indebted) for several years, who once sent me a 

 cheque for ^^ 100, saying, " half a loaf is better than no bread," 

 though a large amount at the time was owing, and before 

 another remittance was made the total had increased to 

 i^7,5oo, which was settled by bills at long and different dates, 

 only ultimately paid after the delay and unpleasantness usual 

 in these cases. These deferred payments are manifestly one 

 cause of the comparative poverty of the trainer. I could 

 better afford and would much prefer to train horses for 30^-. 

 per week ready money (monthly payment), than for 50^-. on 

 the credit system such as I have described. I have been told, 

 and on the very best authority, that the late Mr. John Scott 

 had at one time over ^20,000 on his books owing to him, over 

 and above his yearly bills, which temporarily so inconvenienced 

 him, that he had to request time for the settlement of his own 

 affairs. He recovered, however, and died comparatively a 

 wealthy man, notwithstanding his enormous losses. It must 



