AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 441 



conscience, to justify his throat being cut? Alas! 

 Archer's " dust " is being " pounded " in his cold, narrow 

 home which he reached all too soon by his own act. 

 The Barretts are no longer chief actors on the stage of 

 the Turf. Charlie Wood returned to his old love after 

 nine years' banishment at an estimated personal loss 

 of 40,000, for at the time of his licence being with- 

 drawn, he would in all probability be earning 5000 

 a year. The poet is more kindly to Jim Goater, and 

 compliments our own hero upon his wisdom. But 

 whence are we to derive the Promethean fire to 

 illumine the ashes of the dead with the living, and to 

 realise perfection of head, heart, and hands, of strength, 

 patience, finesse, judgment, and integrity all of which 

 are elements to be sought for in the devoutly-to-be- 

 wished-f or consummation ? 



Routine life at Brecongill exacts early rising. Long 

 years ago John Osborne was dubbed the "early bird," 

 for whether at home or away at a meeting his string of 

 horses were first out for morning exercise. Stable life 

 in winter begins at 6 o'clock, breakfast at 7.30, and this 

 repast over, the first batch of racers are sent out for 

 exercise on the Moor, this part of the day's work being 

 finished at about noon. The second lot of horses are 

 taken out about 1.30 o'clock for exercise until the 

 afternoon is well advanced. Then " to stable " for 

 the first lot at 6.30 o'clock in the evening, and the 

 second by 8 o'clock, when the day's work ends. 



" Something attempted, something done, 

 Has earned a night's repose." 



In summer the start is made as early as 4.30 

 o'clock in the morning, and, of course, stabling is 

 done for the day at a proportionately earlier hour. 

 Thus it will be gathered that neither trainer, stable- 



