PURCHASE AND PRELIMINARIES 



nesses, and professions, there are precious few 

 horsemen. Respect decent men, and let them 

 see that you do. You will, perhaps, afford them 

 an agreeable and a novel sensation. Once you 

 have taken the dealer's word and completed the 

 transaction, do not expect that, because of the 

 wisdom of your adviser, or through your own 

 preternatural sagacity, your $250 horse is worth 

 at least $500. One's geese may be swans, but 

 whatever price you paid, it was full value, and 

 the dealer would tell you so if you asked him. 

 He is no Santa Claus, nor is he in business for 

 health any more than you pursue your own avo- 

 cation for the ozone that may be in it. He got 

 full value, or you would n't have got the horse, 

 and upon his always doing so depends his ability 

 to eat porter-house steak whenever his appetite 

 impels. You got fair value for your money, and 

 that, reader mine, is about all we can ever expect, 

 in this vale of tears, from anybody. 



One thing more and we will be moving. When 

 you get ready to sell, don't, for pity's sake, be 

 you novice or expert, imagine that you can use a 

 horse from three to ten years, and then get for 

 him more than you paid originally. A |6o suit 

 of clothes sells for $2 after one year's wear. Why 



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