A WORD FOR GEORGE HALL. 299 



taken to do things they were totally unfitted to 

 accomplish, and unconsciously worked their own 

 ruin. It is true an accident may have made their 

 fortune, as it has made fortunes for others before 

 them ; but only to complete more speedily their 

 downfall. Nevertheless, Mr. Parr was a wonderful 

 character. Talented he must have been, and as 

 persevering as he was reckless in the waste of the 

 good things that came to him. 



I have mentioned George Hall, his factotum, and 

 cannot close this chapter without a word in praise of 

 a character as marked as it was curious in type. He 

 spent his life in the faithful service of his employer, 

 who, without his aid, would have lost much of his 

 claims to attention. George would first attend to 

 the toilet of the horses, and then to that of their 

 master. Moreover, he rode them at exercise, in their 

 trials and for their races. He was patient in riding, and 

 steered many to victory under difficult circumstances. 

 In fact, the colours he rode in were, through his 

 instrumentality, better known than described. Tra- 

 dition says the}' were originally puce-and-white. 

 But, alas! age, and the effect of a variable climate, 

 left but the faintest trace of one colour, and none of 

 the other. Still, George in the old familiar Noah's 

 Ark jacket, with breeches and boots to match, on 

 Fisherman, was often vociferously cheered when 

 hailed the winner, as, after being weighed, he led his 

 gentle old favourite back to the stable with inward 



