The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-05-27
TROTWOOD'S TALK.
Interesting to Farmers, Breeders and
Dairymen.
Facts, Figures and Information o
General Interest to the Country
Gentleman.
To John Henry.

And now, my son, the time will
soon be here for you to go out to the
races, and TrOtwoOd desires to give
YOU a little advice on that subject De-
fore YOU throw up your crap shooting
and go in for a bigger game OF the
same kind. Not that we expect you
to take our advice, but because we
love boys, and we see in your good
breeding, your bright and manly face,
your dash, courage and exuberance Oh
life and fun, the kind OF stuH, Whlch,
Led along for few years with the
proper kind of kicking strap on,
will make the race for name and
fame and fortune hot for any other
candidate who lacks the gifts you
have inherited. 1t is the more
necessary that we speak now be-
cause the time will soon be here when
you will have that opportunity oil
showing to the world that you are
really and truly q man. We refer TO
betting on hOrse-races and we nope
you will not do it. We have only
two reasons and they are not long
said.
In the first place, because it is
wrong; not bad policy, bad form, bad
styIe, fashion, habit or practice, but
Just simply wrong. The kind OF
wrong that your father and mother
tells you of, and warns you about.
Now, if you see Older gentlemen,
whose minds are matured, whose
money and time are their own, ana
who are betting, do not let that worry
you. They have a right to do as they
please with that time, talent anu
money, 50 long as they conduct
themselves in such a manner as TO
offend no other PERSONS pubic or
private rights. But it IS different
with YOU, John Henry. Your mind
is not matured, your habits for bust
ness and correct morals are being
made, your time is not your own, but
belongs to those who have spent
nights and days on your raising, with
ceaseless anxiety and loving care
and they ask you to spend 1t, as you
would the money they have given
you in making a good start in life
not O poor finish.
Look around and tell me what
large breeders in Maury County are
continually betting Oh races. l don't
know of them. What merchants do
il? What men that stand at the top
of their business in any calling, prac-
tice gambling on horse races us a
mode of getting along in the world
Not one!
In the second place, if you wish to
make money at 1t, be convinced at
once that you cannot do 1t. Inc
thing is followed up no longer, as III
days agone, a. sport, chance, II
hazard, an excitement OF gentlemen
of honor and integrity; but, like
many other things changed by the
changes of time, this also has changed,
aud as a rule the business is now run
bv very shrewd and unscrupulOus
men, purely on their shrewdness and
their trickery as their stock in trade.
II is not the excitement that they are
after; not the thrill that tingles the
cheek as they put up their money to
back their pride of State as against an
honest prejudice OF some other
locality; or the excitement that
brings out their money on their home
horse or their friends horse as
as against the world; no, not at ali ;
thew are simply out for the American
dollar, and they know their business
like the mariner knows the compass,
like a ieweIer the inmost recesses OF
a watch, like an astronomer the paths
OF the stars.
Chance, thrill, excitement, honor,
glory, friendship, brains-thess "aTe
not in II, my BON. Alas! they have
long since gone. Gone with the days
of Old Hickory, who raced his horse
Tor nOnOr anu look IL OuI WIN
sion in the dark and bloody soil Of
Kentucky on the field of honor! Gone
with chivaIry and wine and planta
tions and dueling and knee-breeches,
And in their stead is come fraud RnC
cunning, cool "Open and shut" sharI
tricks, pulling and rInging-not
question OF judgment; not a questi 1
OF brains; not a question of nerve bu
merely the question of keen, un
sc.upulous and well-pOsted rascal
against an honest, wel4-meaning bu
innocent fool.
You haven't any chance to increas'
your pocket book or to enlarge you
brain tissue. The thing was fixed be
fore you ever appeared, John Henry
for the other fellow, the book-maker
has done what you would not do. HI
has slept with the stable dog, tn
swipe, the horse and the driver, an'
ne knows it all. Therefore he will
beat YOU. Therefore let him alone
Therefore throw aside the false motion
of being a dashing, brainy, impOrtan
sort of a fellow, and be instead ma
like your father or the other business
men I have mentioned, who ar
brainy because they have made them
selves so in honest battling with tn
world, and important because they ar
trusted by all men and all men don
trust gamblers, ny son.