358 LIFE WITH THE TROTTERS. 



SO that I shall never forget it. I think if the public knew 

 and could appreciate how a game horse will struggle, strive 

 and straia every muscle to win under unfavorable circum- 

 stances, they would treat them in a very much more humane 

 manner than they sometimes do. It seems so strange to me 

 that the noblest, truest, kindest and bravest animals in all 

 the Lord's creation should be placed in a position where to 

 say the least 50 per cent, of them are badly if not cruelly 

 treated. I often hear people say that the Society for the 

 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has too much power. I 

 think not. If I were a judge on the bench and a man was 

 proven guilty before me of beating his wife or abusing his 

 horse in any manner, I should certainly want to give him a 

 life sentence. 



Writing about this race recalls to my mind the sad end- 

 ing of- Mr. Baker's career. At the time he owned Calmar 

 he was wealthy, prosperous and the world was his friend. 

 He lost his fortune, and as is very often the case, his friends 

 with it ; lived some years in next to actual poverty and died 

 a violent death. Mr. Bakei' may have had his faults ; I never 

 saw a man who did not. I have heard him severely criti- 

 cised and by those whom I think should have befriended 

 instead, as I know he had befriended them. I believe in the 

 old adage of speaking well of a bridge which carries you safely 

 over. To me Mr. Baker was a true friend, a kind employer ; 

 helped me in every way it is possible for one man to help 

 another, and I always pitied him in his trouble and misfor- 

 tune. 



I have often heard people remark that they wondered at 

 blacksmiths and horseshoers beiug such an ignorapt class 

 of men. I know this is the reputation they have among 

 some people. I perhaps have as large a personal acquaint- 

 ance among that class of mechanics as anyone in the world, 

 and I wish to deny emphatically that such is the case. I 

 know any number of blacksmiths who in their own business 

 are first-class artizans, and with brains and intelligence 

 enough to fill almost any position in life with success. I 



