AT HOME 355 



which were named after naval heroes and friendly ecclesi- 

 astical dignitaries an Episcopalian Bishop, a Catholic 

 Priest, and my own Dutch Reformed Pastor Bishop 

 Doane 7 Father O'Grady, Dr. Johnson, Fighting Bob 

 Evans, and Admiral Dewey. Father O'Grady, by the 

 way, proved to be of the softer sex; a fact definitely estab- 

 lished when two of his joint owners, rushing breathless 

 into the room, announced to a mixed company, " Oh, oh, 

 Father O'Grady has had some children! " 



Of course there are no pets like horses; and horse- 

 manship is a test of prowess. The best among vigorous 

 out-of-door sports should be more than pastimes. Play 

 is good for play's sake, within moderate limits, especially 

 if it is athletic play; and, again within moderate limits, 

 it is good because a healthy body helps toward healthi- 

 ness of mind. But if play serves only either of these 

 ends, it does not deserve the serious consideration which 

 rightly attaches to play which in itself fits a man to do 

 things worth doing; and there exists no creature much 

 more contemptible than a man past his first youth who 

 leads a life devoted to mere sport, without thought of the 

 serious work of life. In a free Government the average 

 citizen should be able to do his duty in war as well as in 

 peace; otherwise he falls short. Cavalrymen and infan- 

 trymen, who do not need special technical knowledge, are 

 easily developed out of men who are already soldiers in 

 the rough, that is, who, in addition to the essential quali- 

 ties of manliness and character, the qualities of resolution, 

 daring and intelligence, which go to make up the " fight- 

 ing edge," also possess physical hardihood ; who can live 



