A PERIOD OF PROPOUND DEPRESSION 349 



weighed over 2,100 pounds in show condition. He 

 was an exceptional horse, fine in head with a clean- 

 cut neck, well set on, strong back, powerful loin, 

 level croup, well-set tail, heavily muscled quarters, 

 thighs and gaskins, deep-ribbed, round-barrelled, 

 extra well-set legs and good feet. He was heavy in 

 bone, with tendons well set back, and was extra 

 good in quality and action. As a sire he is out- 

 ranked only by Brilliant 3d and Besigue (19602) in 

 number of prize-winning descendants, and he un- 

 doubtedly did more for the breed in America than 

 ■ even Brilliant 3d, owing to longer and more liberal 

 service. He had a touch of founder at one time, 

 which made him a bit short in front. This was the 

 only thing which dissuaded A. L. Eobison, Sr., Pekin, 

 111., from placing him at the head of the Leslie 

 Farm stud in 1900, and Mr. Eobison recently stated 

 that he felt he had erred in judgment, Villers being 

 one of the most perfect Percheron types he had ever 

 seen. Villers was eventually sold to Perry & Porter- 

 field, Wayne, Neb., March 15, 1901, but had no chance 

 on purebred mares. 



The most noted son of Villers was Jules (37987), 

 a horse that was rated as the leading sire in the 

 Perche between 1900 and the time of his death. 



OaJdawn Mares and Colts. — Mr. Dunham persist- 

 ently held to his best mares, save in rare instances 

 when it seemed necessary to let a great brood mare 

 go to close the sale of a group. The most important 

 dams have been considered with the exception of 

 Bertha 5340 (7008). She wa§ one of Oaklawn's 



