HOW TO MAKE MONEY BY HOKSES. 127 



him down as a weak man for doing so ; ho would 

 only shew himself a niggardly one if he debarred 

 himself from possessing what he prized, because its 

 price was high ; he gets what is uncommon, merely 

 at the cost of what he can well spare : it is only the 

 man who purchases that which does not possess merit 

 that shews his weakness; and that weakness or, at all 

 events, ill-judgment, would still be shewn, though 

 the price was a low one. He may say the object 

 purchased, though not remarkable fcr superior merit, 

 will answer his purpose as well as the one that did ; 

 if so, the object purchased has merit ; that is, the 

 merit of satisfying the wishes and answering the 

 purpose of those content with direct mediocrity. 

 But I must infer that he who pays a high price for 

 that which has no merit (and such things are done), 

 is one of those " born every hour" doubly distilled 

 — very convenient persons, no doubt ; and I can fancy 

 I hear dealers in anything say, ' ' may they increase 

 and multiply." 



Ladies' horses are acquisitions to the stable of a 

 man of fortune that will always command a high 



