OF THE SADDLE AND SIRLOIN CLUB 209 



ration to thirsty soldiers for their candle issues. Among his 

 earliest ventures was the opening of a wine shop from which 

 he stepped into the position of wholesale wine merchant. This 

 latter business developed to such an extent that in his latest 

 years his taxes amounted to five million dollars annually. 



An earnest student of breeding practice, his interest in the 

 origin and source of British types was insatiable, and the results 

 of his researches are recorded in the pamphlets and books he 

 has published. Most of these were published from the press 

 of Vinton & Co., agricultural publishers, a corporation in which 

 he held much capital stock, and to whose London Livestock 

 Journal he devoted some attention in his later years. 



The English Cart Horse, the Hackney and the Hunter were 

 rescued from deterioration and perhaps oblivion through his 

 good offices. He gathered a group of interested men and re- 

 established the Shire Horse Stud Book of England. As earnest 

 of his interest, he paid $4,300 for the stallion Spark at a crucial 

 period in Shire market values. He was elected president of the 

 Shire Horse Society and through his widespread interest suc- 

 ceeded in having the Royal Commission on Horse Breeding 

 established. In 1894 he paid $25,000 for the Hackney stallion 

 Danegelt in order to prevent his exportation, and placed him 

 in service at Elsenham stud. Although this horse lived but three 

 seasons thereafter, his investment proved most profitable, since 

 the Danegelt blood has dominated shoviryard pedigrees ever 

 since. His equipment for harness horses was one of the most 

 complete and original in the entire world, his arrangement of 

 paddocks and his equipment of riding and driving schools being 

 recognizedly superlative in Britain. 



Sir Walter was president of the Hackney Horse Society, the 

 Hunter Improvement Society, the Polo Pony Society, the Shet- 

 land Pony Society, the Essex Agricultural Society, and the 

 Smithfield Club. He was the originator of the annual London 



