LIFE WITH THE TROTTEES. 375^ 



part of it. After the war lie engaged in some business ven- 

 tures, bought a trotter for the love of the horse, and after- 

 ward bloomed out as professional trainer and driver, and in 

 that connection has owned and driven some of the most cele- 

 brated horses in this country. CharKe Harvey is an English- 

 man by birth, an American by adoption, the proprietor of a 

 hotel by occupation, and an owner of trotters for pleasure. 

 He is always ready to trot his horses for the money, will 

 ^back his opinion at all times, and as a neighbor and friend 

 and a joUy companion rates first class. Al Carlile is always 

 considered Ira Bride's running mate, a position which he is 

 amply able to fill, not only from his size, as he and Ira are 

 considered the heavy weights of the turf, but from other 

 traits of their characters. They have both often lost their 

 money on a horse-race, but when it comes to ordering and 

 eating a good dinner, their speed and staying qualities are 

 acknowledged by everyone who knows them. As a mer- 

 chant, Carlile has proved himself a man of rare ability, 

 very temperate in habits, never having smoked a cigar or 

 taken a drink of liquor under any circumstances, always 

 ready to back his opinion with his money on anything from 

 the Presidential election to a hundred-yard foot-race. As a 

 friend he is true blue, as many a man on the turf to-day has 

 reason to know from the fact that at some time in his career 

 Carlile has bridged him over a financial difficulty. 



In this respect I think sporting men are much more 

 liberal and charitable than business men. On the turf, no 

 matter how poor a man may get, how bad his luck may be, 

 or what misfortune may overtake him by loss of health or 

 otherwise, you may rest assured of one thing, he wUl find 

 plenty of people in his own line willing to help him in his 

 time of distress, and if I were ever to have the plate passed 

 for my benefit, with all due respect for the churches, of 

 which I am a great admirer, I would sooner have it sent. 

 around on the race-track than in the wealthiest church in 

 the world. As a rule, I think the conduct of men con- 

 nected with the turf will compare favorably with that of 



