352 A HISTORY OP THE PERCHERON HORSE 



it does give a glimpse into operations during the 

 depressed times. 



The Great Leader. — Over and above all details, the 

 most striking feature of Oaklawn's work at this time 

 is to be found in the personality of Mark W. Dun- 

 ham himself. His genius for organization and his 

 extraordinary abilitj- as a salesman enabled him to 

 maintain the great Oaklawn stud intact in spite of 

 the financial panic and the hard times. 



When other men could not sell Percherons, or sold 

 at ridiculously low prices, Mr. Dunham inspired con- 

 fidence in the final outcome, encouraged many men 

 to hold on, and was successful in making sales at 

 good prices. There was not a season, even in the 

 worst years, when he was not well sold out by May, 

 so far as stallions of serviceable age were concerned. 

 It is true that he did not make importations for 

 several years and that his operations were limited; 

 but the stallions he raised or bought in America 

 were sold at prices that left him a good profit, and 

 he was instrumental in causing several wealthy men 

 to enlarge their Percheron holdings at a time when 

 the vast majority of breeders had given up all hope. 

 He had faith, enthusiasm, foresight, and a knowledge 

 of human nature which made him more than ever a 

 commanding figure in the business when others had 

 failed to weather the storm. His death in February, 

 1899, aged 53 years, was as great a loss to Percheron 

 interests as the death of a general of military genius 

 at the critical point in a great battle, for Percheron 

 breeding was just rounding into shape for a mar- 



