Harriers 9 1 



them artist chaps charged " for such a thing ? 

 " I paid fifty guineas for this," was the reply, 

 whereat the groom was struck dumb with 

 astonishment. Later on in the day the 

 following was reported from the servants' 

 hall: "Master's been tryin' to deceive me. 

 Wanted to make me believe that picture of 

 Old Jack cost fifty guineas ! Why, that's all 

 he paid for the horse itself ! " 



Almost the same thing happened to Mr. 

 MacWhirter, the well-known painter, who 

 told me the story himself. After the artist 

 had sold his famous picture of " The Van- 

 guard," he naturally took considerable in- 

 terest in the splendid bull which he had 

 painted as the central figure, and meeting 

 the worthy Scotch farmer who had owned 

 it, inquired after the animal's welfare. 



" I did varra weel wi' him. I sold him for 



just guineas." (I forget the amount 



now. ) 



" What a curious thing ! " exclaimed Mr. 

 MacWhirter; " that is the exact amount I got 

 for the picture of him." 



