The Savannah morning news., 1901-06-02
AN EDUCATED FOOL.
By Mrs. B. b. Seaman.

DORIS q fool. He might have won
first money if he'd listened to his jock
ey instead of trusting TO his own judg-
ment These educated fellows don't know
it all, If they have got so much book
learning. have always noticed that men
who understand horse nature usually I'M
derstood human nature pretty well. I've
dealt in horse flesh all my life. and I've
never made mistake yet in my estimate
of either man or beast"
The speaker sat leaning back in an
arm chair on the veranda of the hotel
Of which he was proprietor, surrounded
by group of horsemen who had just
returned from the races, and who, full
of it's excitement, were discussing the
merits and dement's of the various hors-
es, and their owners and jockeys as well.
Being a successful dealer in horse flesh
! himself, DeGolyer naturally gathered
about him men of like tastes, habits and
| interests.
There goes another educated fool. That
! young chap of a minister has got one of
the best colts in the country and don't
seem to know it. I've had my eye on her
| for some time"
His listeners all turned to look at the
| colt.
by Jove! If the fool hasn't driven her
plump into the fence! Saying his pray
ers. l suppose, and forgot that he was
driving a valuable colt"
roar of laughter followed this re-
mark just as the colt backed, reared
plunged backed again, broke the harness,
and turned the minister out, fortuna tely
unhurt.
All this looked bad for the specula-
far's 1f Aad but No
Golyer's wit was equal to the occasion,
and in order to show that his faith was
still undaunted he said: After such
fracas as that is a good time to stump
the young CHAP for a trade" and he ran
across the road to the minister's assis-
lance, followed by his son George. who
had been silent listener to his father S
remarks, which he we'll understood had
been as much for his benefit as for the
entertainment of the group.
What in the deuce did you let that
colt run up against the fence for?" said
the trader. You'll spoil her."
Il don't seem able to manage her"
Likely you don't drive her enough"
II don't have time"
Then you'd better sell her before she's
spoiled, and you get your neck broken,
if you don't know how to manage better
than that"
81 suppose I might as we'll, don't
need her.
What do you hold her at?"
II couldn't say what she Is worth"
DeGolyer usually assumed an attitude
of great indifference whenever he wanted
to buy or trade horse, but he thought
1t best to change his tactics this time,
for were not the men on the veranda
watching the progress of the stump"
We'll, you know how much you gave
for her, don't you; how much her keeps
cost, and about how much will make you
even or more?
"She was a present from my father"
answered the minister, with exasperating
Indifference.
How old do you reckon herr"
by looking her we'll over, I suppose
you can tell about that almost as well
as can"
well. WE'LL I mean her exact age"
Just four this month";
How would you like 90 trade her for
a watch?"
Il don't know. 1 can get along very
well without her. I'm not as good
horseman as my father and he told me to
sell her If found I couldn't manage her
all right" answered the minister. hesi-
tatingly Il need watch, and II doesn't
cost 40 keep it, and it does horse"
well, look at this watch, / gave a
hundred and fifty dollars for 1t, and they
say it is first class. You can take it to the
1eweler, who hangs his sign out Just in
front of the park and ask his opinion"
IF it suits me I'll take your word for
it., replied the minister, very quietly, as
he examined the time-piece
I'D rather you wouldn't. I may not
be as good judge of a watch as / am of
horse. Better ask the jeweler."
VERY well AS I don't know anyone
who is better judge of horse than
yourself to refer to, you will have to take
the colt on your own Judgment, not mine
l don't know any fault in her other than
the one you have seen, and you lay that
to my bad management of her"
I'll risk that. I'll soon take that all
out of her, and come around and give
you fine drive. That is. If it's a trade. >"
IF you say so it is"
Then 1 might as we'll take her right
over to the hotel with me. I'll send nv
men to take your broken carriage home
for you"
"All right, thank you"
The minister put the watch into his
pocket and walked calmly down the
street. while the Spectator took a line
from the broken harness. fastened IL
around the neck of the colt and led her
in triumph up in front of the watching
group, saying:
Il traded the chap watch for her and
he didn't even mention anything to boot
and, of course, l didn't suggest 1t. 1
wouldn't sell her for three times what
gave her. She'll look fine after she's
had better care. All for a $50 watch !
That's just the way those Greek and
Latin chaps let good bargains slip through
their fingers. They don't seem to have
any business gumption about them"
This was said with a significant look
at his son. He had closely watched the
whole transaction. and for his own res-
sons, bitterly regretted the lack of bust
ness ability shown by the minister He
felt that it would be but another argu-
ment used against the fulhllment of his
cherished hope-that of entering college
and qualifying himself for a profession
of which his father did not approve.
Only the previous morning George had
approached his father for the third time
on this Objectionable subject, and had
received the usual answer: "A common
school education had been good enough
for him: it would be for his son. As to
a profession, his business had pulled him
through all right; his son would do well
to follow in the same line"
Some time after, when George had made
one more and a final appeal to his father
in vain, he decided 10 resign himself to
his fale. for the time being. and took his
books and started for the academy. while
his father went out to again try the new
colt VI, 10
George had scarcely reached the park
when his father came driving down the