BIPEDS AND QUADRUPEDS. 55 



horses, like all other men, have a character, many 

 one of such sort that they would be happy to lose 

 it if they could ; but this is not readily eifected, for 

 it is much more difficult to lose a bad than to gain 

 a good one ; but as they all have a character of some 

 sort, it merges into this : those (and there are some) 

 of high character would not wish that it should be 

 tainted, the thousands who have a very bad one do 

 not wish it made worse, and the very pretty sprinkling 

 who have only the character of being capable of any 

 rascally act or acts that are disgraceful to man, are 

 forced to keep up some show of fair dealing, know- 

 ing as they well do, that every act is watched and 

 suspected. Jockeys have, if they are high in their 

 profession, a great deal of character at stake, for if 

 a man is making a thousand a year by his riding, a 

 few hundreds will not tempt him to materially sully 

 his character, either on the score of his ability or 

 honesty ; as a pound, shilling, and pence matter he 

 would refuse to do so, under ordinary temptation ; 

 the trainer has also character at stake, so when he 

 does wrong, he must mask it with considerable tact ; 



