The Life of Fred Archer 277 
I have indicated, six winners, and some idea may be gathered 
of the physical tension to which his frame was habitually sub- 
jected, and which must have had no slight connection with 
the catastrophe which has made so deep an impression upon 
the minds of the entire community. 
" I pointed out to him that with the money he had accumu- 
lated, with the profits he would derive from the produce of the 
brood mares in which he took such a keen interest, and with 
the companionship of his child, his future might now be one 
of happiness, activity, and enjoyment. 
" Whilst I pressed these views upon him he listened very 
quietly. His replies were always characterised by great in- 
telligence and modesty, but the sum total of them all was 
that he never felt so well as when he was in good hard training. 
Like most great artists whom I have known, I believe he was 
actually of a nervous and sensitive temperament, and that, 
like them, he was always inclined to estimate generously the 
qualities of those behind him, but it was not so easy for him 
before the race to realise that the horse he had frequently 
steered to victory would be so easily disposed of. 
" Before I left he took me through his little stables, point- 
ing with affecting pride to the miniature victoria which he 
had bought for his child, and for which he had secured an 
infantile driver and the smallest pony in England. He con- 
ducted me over the paddocks, telling me as we went of some 
recent success he had achieved in the breeding department, 
and when we parted he went to the Heath to ride a trial 
or two before the day's acting commenced. 
" At various times I have conversed on all sorts of topics 
with Frederick Archer, and I never met him in this way without 
being impressed by his retiring nature, his modesty, and, 
withal, his strong belief in his own powers. He was 
clearly an ambitious man, passionately attached to his calling, 
and intensely desirous to maintain his position as the 
undisputed head of his profession. But he was always and at 
