a here, Mr. Sanford,' I says. 'They're all doin' it. If
you're goin' to train hosses you've got to get in the band wagon. If
_you_ can't give the owner a run fur his money he'll find somebody to
train 'em who can!'

"'Do you mean to tell me, suh, the wonderful courage displayed by that
mayah when the time came, was false?' says ole man Sanford, pointin' at
Tres Jolie's stall. 'Ah saw strong men, the backbone of this state,
suh,' he says, 'watch that mayah come home with tears in their eyes.
Were their natures moved to the depths by an insulting counterfeit of
greatness?'

"'Why, sure not!' I says. 'But all hosses ain't like this mare.'

"'They are not, suh!' says ole man Sanford. 'Noh were they intended to
be! But few of us are ordained foh the heights. However,' he says,
puttin' his hand on my shoulder, 'Ah should not censure you too
strongly, young man. In fohcing yoh hawsses to simulate qualities they
do not possess, you are only a part of yoh times. This is the day of
imitation--I find it between the covahs of yoh books--I hear it in the
music yoh applaud--I see it riding by in motah-cars. Imitation--all
imitation!'

"I ain't hep to this line of chatter--it's by me. But I dopes it out
he's sore at automobiles,

"'What's wrong with 'em?' I says to him.

"'Ah don't feel qualified to answer yoh question, suh,' he says. 'Ah
believe the blind pursuit and worship of riches is almost entirely
responsible. It has bred a shallowness and superficiality in and
towahds the finah things of life. But the historian will answer yoh
question at a later day. He can bring a calmness to the task which is
impossible to one surrounded and bewildered by it all.'

"I ain't any wiser'n I was, but I don't say nothin'. The old man acts
like he's studyin' about somethin'.

"'Who owns the hawss that just trialed three-quahtahs in fohteen?' he
says, after while.

"'Jim Sigsbee up at Cynthiana,' I says.

"'Is Mr. Sigsbee awaheh of the--method you pursue with regahd to
falsely stimulating his hawss?' says ole man Sanford.

"'Well, I guess yes!' I says. 'Jim won't bet a dollar on him unless
he's got the hop in him.'

"'Ah shall write to him,' says ole man Sanford, 'n' beats it down the
track toward the gates.

"I don't see him fur over a week. I figger he's sore at me fur dopin'
hosses. It's a funny thing but, I'm a son-of-a-gun if I don't miss the
ole duck. From the way they talk I see the boys kind-a miss him