78 Cross Country with Horse and Hound 



a good bit of money before they develope into real horse- 

 sense or knowledge. They remind one of the boy who, 

 when asked how he was getting on in arithmetic, replied : 

 "Oh, I am almost through studying it. I have finished 

 the ' add-ups ' ; I 'm now in the ' take-froms ' ; and when I 

 learn to multiply I shall be all through with arithmetic." 

 Here is another example of a would-be clever buyer of a 

 hunter. This kind writes a letter : 



NEW YORK CITY, April 7, 1901. 

 Mr. Horse-dealer^ 



DEAR SIR : It occurs to me that I should like to inquire if you 

 have any good hunters on hand. I don't know that I want to buy, 

 but if I should I should want a horse fifteen-three hands, bay with 

 black legs and a star in the face. I do not object to one hind foot 

 being white. I like plenty of action, especially knee and hock action; 

 short back with a long stride ; high head-carriage without check, and 

 nice long pasterns. He must not be afraid of anything. If you 

 have such a horse I might like to have him, if you would take in 

 exchange one I bought last month of Blank. Please answer by 

 return mail, and greatly oblige 



Yours truly, 



RICHARDSON DOE. 



P.S. Please send photos of the horses you have for me to 

 choose from. 



It is amusing to see one of these conceited chaps in a 

 dealer's stables, looking for a curb, picking up a foot, 

 usually only one, on the nigh side, glaring into the horse's 

 eyes to see if he is blind, appearing very wise after the 

 manner of doctors when they do not know what is the 

 matter with their patient, and asking the dealer: "Is he 

 sound?" Flattered by the dealer's "You can probably 

 judge better than I ; I can always tell by the way a man 



