THE END OF A LONG REIGN. 197 



To this letter Mr Guest replied in a letter 

 dated March 20 : — 



Dear Wattie, — Please convey to your Committee that, 

 whilst grateful for the offer of the proffered testimonial, I 

 have no wish to accept it. I am already the proud pos- 

 sessor of a testimonial from the farmers of the Blackmore 

 Vale, which I value most highly, and I do not think it 

 would be fitting that I should receive any testimonial 

 in the present inauspicious moment, when every man's 

 purse is being called upon to assist the resources of the 

 Empire. 



The allusion is, of course, to the war in South 

 Africa, which was then running its weary length. 



The question of some form of expression of the 

 lively feelings of gratitude to Mr Guest felt by 

 the large body of landowners and farmers of the 

 country, was not to be so easily dismissed. The 

 farmers expressed a determination that the Master 

 who had striven so hard in the field to prevent 

 needless damage being done to their property, 

 and who had so consistently looked after their 

 interests, should not be allowed to retire without 

 receiving a mark of their affection and goodwill. 

 To the strongly worded request that reached 

 him Mr Guest yielded assent, only making the 

 proviso that in anything that was done the 

 subscription should be limited to half-a- crown 

 a-head. 



Acting in what was felt to be in accordance 

 with Mr Guest's wishes, it was resolved that an 

 address of thanks should be given to him by his 



