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to the temptations which encircle every man of his profession, Mr. 

 Dawson has thus practically retired from public training. He has done 

 so with an escutcheon untarnished, and a character against which the 

 foulest tongue cannot utter a word, surrounded as he is with every- 

 thing requisite to make his old age happy. In future he will train 

 only these few horses, which with his stud farm will give him pleasant 

 occupation devoid of the worry and anxiety which attended his former 

 ■calling. 



In 1883 he leased from Lord EUesmere the Heath Farm, which 

 is separated from the July Course by the plantation, and near where 

 Osbaldeston rode his famous match described in the previous chapter. 

 •Since he came into possession he started there a breeding establish- 

 ment, to which exists no superior in England, and few equal it. 



In boxes constructed on the best principle, and with paddocks con- 

 venient, are some fifty brood mares in whose blood run the best strains 

 in the Calendar, and when I was last there Ayrshire and St. Serf were 

 the lords of the harem. 



I saw another stallion which struck me as likely to beget valuable 

 weight-carrying hunters. He is Torpedo by Hermit — Strayshot, 

 powerfully built and well balanced. At the moderate fee of fifteen 

 guineas, which is all Mr. Dawson charges for his service, he is well 

 worth the attention of breeders. 



That his enterprise in starting such a concern and ability with 

 which he conducts it seem to have a satisfactory result, I had evidence 

 a short time ago when I saw despatched therefrom to America a colt 

 by St. Gatien — Glance, and another by Hampton — Cherry, in exchange 

 for Bank of England notes to the tune of 6,250 guineas. 



To be shown over the Heath Stud Farm by the owner, or his stud- 

 groom Weatherall, whose father trained for Henry Lord Waterford, 

 well repays a special journey from London. 



Unlike so many other masters presiding over youth, human and 

 equine, Mat was always gentle to a degree both in his speech and 

 action towards those under his control ; withal there was not a regiment 

 in the service nor an establishment in the kingdom where the observance 

 of rules was carried out with more uniform regularity, efficiency and 

 cheerfulness than in that presided over by the man I have been writing 

 about. Suaviter in modo, fortiter in re was the style he adopted alike 

 towards his employes and employers, with a result that from each 

 class he received profound respect, and none came to him, either for 

 service or to patronise, except the best of their sort. 



With his horses he pursued the same course of treatment ; gentleness 

 and not severity with the noble animal he always insisted upon. 



Throughout his long career he has enjoyed the greatest and most 

 widespread popularity, and the fact that in and about Newmarket he 

 has for years gone under the title of " The Master " shows how he is 

 esteemed at home. Like John Scott, he is a capital host, and has a 

 wonderful cellar of rare old wines. 



