CHAPTER XXVIII 



J. MALCOLM FORBES AND FORBES FARM 



IN the latter part of November, 1891, I ran up 

 from New York to Pittsfield with Mr. Robert Bon- 

 ner to visit Allen Farm. During a carriage drive 

 across the beautiful Berkshire Hills Mr. Bonner 

 suddenly laid his hand on the arm of Wm. Russell 

 Allen and said: " If I were as young as you and 

 had gone to the expense that you have done in es- 

 tablishing a great breeding plant, there is one horse 

 I would own regardless of cost." 



Everybody at that time was talking about the won- 

 derful performance of a two-year-old colt by Elec- 

 tioneer, who had trotted at Stockton, November 10, 

 to high-wheel sulky to a record of 2.iof, and Mr. 

 Allen remarked, " You mean Arion." 



" Yes," replied Mr. Bonner. " His performance 

 is so far ahead of any other of its kind as to place 

 him in a class by himself. It has been my policy 

 to buy the best. They are the cheapest in the end. 

 Pride of ownership is gratified by owning, not the 

 fastest and best trotter of Denver, San Francisco, 

 Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo, 

 Boston, Philadelphia, or New York, but the undis- 

 puted champion trotter of the world. The chief 

 star in the constellation is the one to which all eyes 



turn." 



271 



