134 FIELD AND TEEN. 



witli Clarionet from Mr. Wood^s in Ireland that the 

 Gunter twins, which had to give away a great deal 

 of age, "were beaten at Dumfries. 



In 1858 the herd was at its height. At the York- 

 shire Show at Northallerton, Queen of Trumps, 

 Kose of Athelstane, and Maid of Athelstane, all took 

 firsts ; and Lady of Athelstane and Venus de Medi- 

 cis were honourably mentioned. It seems but yes- 

 terday that they were walking down the streets 

 of the quaint little town ; and well might the short- 

 horn Yorkshiremen joke and call them " Scotfs 

 loty^ as they were all stabled and fed below the Grand 

 Stand while waiting to be trucked. Others were not 

 so well up in the matter, but quite as free to com- 

 municate. ^^ Those belong to my friend Mi\ Richard 

 Booth," said a fussy little man on the steps of the 

 inn, and he began checking them off on his fingers : 

 ^^ That's Queen Mab, or Nectarine Blossom ! — I don't 

 exactly know which, but Pve often seen them — That's 

 Queen of the Isles I'' while he was really indicating 

 Queen of Trumps and '^ The Rose/' till at last a 

 Northumbrian struck in, and said he^d ^' better shut 

 lip/' as they all belonged to a Scotchman, and 

 " none of your grand Mr, Booths,'' 



It w^as indeed a wonder how a plain tenant- 

 farmer could have brought such a lot to the post, 

 and fight single-handed against all the experience, 

 talent, and outlay that could be arrayed against 

 him in England. It Avas a fearfully hazardous busi- 

 ness, under the present artificial show mode, as only 



