PREFACE 



IX 



published in 1873, that more than twenty years had been taken in gathering 

 the information. Mr. Edgar, who published the first American stud book, 

 thus writes in his preface : " The compilation of a General Stud Book 

 in England has been one of immense labor, although that island is 

 a great deal smaller than this continent. Notwithstanding difficulties I 

 have attempted the completion of a work which has been begun by others, 

 who at last abandoned it as a piece of fruitless and unprofitable labor". He 

 then suggests that after many years of indefatigable study and anxious ob- 

 servation he has " at last brought the work to a close," and adds : " Many 

 are the works of human industry which to begin and finish are hardly ever 

 granted to the same person. He that undertakes the compilation of an 

 American Stud Book undertakes that which if it comprehends the fullest ex- 

 tent of his designs, he knows himself unable to perform, because perfection 

 is unattainable by man, though he may make nearer and nearer approaches 

 to it." And again, in the valedictory he says : " The compiler begs leave to 

 remind his fellow-citizens that no less than twelve gentlemen have attempted 

 this Herculean task and failed, and that he is the first who has succeeded in 

 bringing the result of his labors before the public. The past eighteen years 

 have been entirely devoted to travelling in various sections of the United 

 States, and in carrying on an extensive correspondence with gentlemen 

 throughout this country as well as in Europe. * * * and the matter con- 

 tained in the foregoing pages as well as in the second volume is the result ". 

 It will therefore be seen that standard works of this kind, if carefully 

 prepared from original sources, have always required many years in their 

 preparation. In our own work these years have been reduced by the assist- 

 ance of many competent helpers, to whom, and to all who have aided us in 

 obtaining information, we would here return our hearty thanks. 



JOSEPH BATTELL. 

 BREAD LOAF INN, RIPTON, VERMONT, ) 

 March i, 1894. j 



