GOOD LUCK. 



(Published in "Turf, Field and Farm," December 2, 1892.) 



It seems that good luck will follow some people, and 

 he who is not a believer in luck is almost invariably a 

 "lucky dog" himself, who wants his luck credited to the 

 more popular characteristic named "good judgment." 



The late W. J. Gordon, of Cleveland, always insisted 

 that there was no such thing as luck, but he was the per- 

 sonification of good luck combined with the good judg- 

 ment of a canny Scotchman — as he was by descent. I 

 remember overhearing an interesting discussion between 

 him and the foreman of his park, who was also a canny 

 Scot, and in which I thought the humble debater rather 

 got the better of the argument. 



"I tell you, John, there is no such thing as luck ; how 

 often have I told vou that luck is an infernal visionarv 

 humbug and good judgment a stern reality," excitedly 

 said the rich man. 



"Well, now, Mr. Gordon," says John, "the faculty of 

 being smart and possessing good judgment is born in a 

 man, isn't it ? He is smart and successful because he was 

 born smart. Isn't that so ?" says John. 



"Yes, that is so ; and just what I've been telling you all 

 along," replied Mr. Gordon. 



"Well, then, Mr. Gordon, wasn't he in bonnie good 

 luck to be born smart, like you, and in cussed bad luck to 

 be born dull, like me ? Answer that, will you ?" 



