2IO RECORDS OF OLD TIMES 



to Count Polanowski, of Christianople, in Galicia. 

 The public were astounded, as such a price had 

 never before been heard of in Austro- Hungary, but 

 to Englishmen it was a bad price. However, in 

 little more than a year afterwards, the Count wrote 

 to me, saying he believed that the introduction of 

 that sire into his country would completely revolu- 

 tionise the breed of cattle, as the first cross on their 

 native herds was most remarkable, and people were 

 sending for his bull calves both far and near. 



I was not aware until my visit to Amsterdam 

 that the Dutchmen, like our Transatlantic cousins, 

 were admirers of trotting matches. Yet so it proved. 

 A track of nearly a mile in length had been pre- 

 pared, with commodious stands for the spectators, 

 one being set apart for Government officials and 

 their friends. To this, as one of the judges, I was 

 admitted. It was most amusing to see the ' get up ' 

 of some of the drivers, or jockeys. Several were fat, 

 burly fellows, as though the weight made but little 

 difference, some weighing fourteen stone, others 

 about eight stone. The jockeys drove with loud 

 shouts, and, amidst the laughter of the spectators, 

 oftentimes came to grief by catching the wheels of 

 their opponents. There was a large crowd of 

 spectatrrs, which included many ladies in native 

 costume. Altogether, I was pleased with my visit. 

 The people were hospitable, kind, and considerate. 

 The accommodation at the hotels was cleanliness 

 itself, and the ' aiisine ' all that could be desired. 

 As to the agriculture of the Low Countries, there is 



