TWO " SPECIAL COMMISSIONERS " 263 



him to recount the exploits of this bird. It lived in a 

 big outdoor aviary, and when live rats were caught 

 and turned in there, would kill any number of them. 



He never, to the best of my belief, knew why he lost 

 the berth of " Hotspur " on the Telegraph, and he was 

 always very sore about it, but I suppose it was because 

 he was one of the old order, and his literary merit was 

 not up to date. 



I have omitted from these memoranda many journalists 

 of note who well deserve a place for example, Martin 

 Cobbett and his brother "Jack"; nor should one forget 

 Horace Lennard, whose talents reached far further than 

 mere racing journalism ; Elliot Hutchins and George 

 Lowe should be remembered, the latter a man with 

 infinite knowledge of dogs as well as of horses, yet 

 sloppy in his use of language. They were both 

 " Special Commissioners " in the week when Phil May 

 and I were at Newmarket, and I don't remember which 

 was on which paper. It should be noted, however, that 

 The Sportsman man, whoever he may be I think it 

 was Hutchins is " The Special Commissioner," and 

 that has been my title for thirty-one years. It seems 

 a long time ! Most specially, however, I should not 

 forget good old Smurthwaite, of Bell's Life and The 

 Sportsman. He was one of the best in his day, and 

 he never met a man who was not his friend. He did 

 work on The Sportsman in his later days, and his work 

 was always good. Besides, he had Yorkshire knowledge. 



