RECOLLECTIONS OF MEN AND HORSES 



If two of the onlookers should radically differ, a 

 proposition for a match grew out of heated dis- 

 cussion and then Uncle Charles was called aside by 

 each and the price asked. Usually it was a stiff 

 price, and, on return to the smoking-room toasts were 

 drunk to the new owners and seemingly not a cloud 

 obscured the sky. Conversation stopped at an hour 

 to give the guests time to dress for the seven o'clock 

 dinner, because it was well known what a martinet of 

 punctuality Mr. Backman was at his table. The 

 sherry was of the richest vintage, the dry champagne 

 was served in thin goblets, and the brandy, the very 

 gold of earth's fruitage, put you in good humor with 

 yourself and all the world. Those who preferred the 

 drawing-room after the brandy were welcomed by the 

 ladies, but usually the procession filed up the stairs 

 and revelled in the freedom of the smoking-room. 

 Here were books of reference to settle points in dis- 

 pute when controversy became intense, and a penalty 

 imposed on the loser was to put fresh glasses on a 

 silver tray. The entire world was each man's oyster 

 in that big room, adorned with portraits of horses 

 and studded with generous armchairs, with a con- 

 venient sofa here and there, and eyelids did not grow 

 heavy even when the stars of midnight looked down 

 upon the oaks and the pines. It was rare that feel- 

 ing did not burst into song, and the meadow larks 

 waiting for the sun to rise listened and wondered if 

 something were not out of joint. Many a match, 

 which became the talk of the country, was made and 



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