2 THE STUD. 



pretend or hope to guide the judgment of a pur- 

 chaser to his probable advantage. 



Supposing ourselves qualified to do this, so far 

 as regards the generality of persons, we then come 

 to the far greater difficulty of advising as to par- 

 ticular individuals and particular tastes. For 

 instance — 



A lady, for whom I have the greatest possible 

 respect, and who, in most things, has a correct 

 and refined taste, has a piano that has been one, 

 I should say, an honest three-score years ; to my 

 uncultivated ear it is somewhat worse in musical 

 sound than the worst hurdy-gurdy I ever heard 

 ground by some forlorn being wdio gets paid not 

 to horrify the neighbourhood by his music. Yet 

 my friend avers, that, though, in point of compass 

 of notes, both in sound and number, it is not one 

 of Broadwood's last efforts, " it has many sweet 

 notes." I should like to find the man who could 

 direct the judgment of my valued friend in se- 

 lecting what would really be worth having as an 

 instrument. 



Little flattering as may be the assertion, there 

 are many men whose taste and judgment in horses 

 are about on a par with those of my friend in 

 pianos. 



But, independent of the taste or judgment of 

 particular persons about horses — be it mediocre or 

 bad (for this book is not written for good judges), 



