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FIFTH EARL OF GLASGOW AN OLD-TIME MATCHMAKER The greatest matchmaker who ever lived was the fifth Earl of Glasgow. Matchmaking was his hobby and, although his horses far oftener lost than won, he was as keen after he had reached the three score years and ten as he was at middle age. Like Admiral Rowe, he was a son of the sea and gloried in pitting his stable, horse for horse, against that doughty warrior. Sir Robert Peel and Sir Joseph Hawley were others that he joyed in getting up against. No matter how had the horse might be, he was generally convinced that there was in training a worse one that he could beat with a slight difference of weight in his favor, and he acted upon that presumption with a degree of- insouciance that was assuredly diverting. A chronicler of his day said of htm : "His nerve in sustaining defeat after defeat is perfectly marvelous and never, I believe, but once was his spirit shaken, which was at the Houghton meeting of 1867, when he sighed over the fact of having lost 7,500 in fees for different engagements in the four days." He resolved, thereupon, to give up matchmaking, but, having four other matches on his hands, he won them all and his good resolution went like others have gone to that place which must be pretty well paved by this time. But Lord Glasgow had other peculiarities. He wouldnt name a colt or filly until it had won its spurs, a practice that was disconcerting to the pedigree students. He would meet all his engagements irrespective of the expense. He had a horror of touts, whom he called "snakes in the grass," and of newspaper men, for one of whom he made a reputation, to wit, "Pavo," of the London Morning Post, by having him ruled off the Newmarket Heath. After that incident, although its price was threepence, the Post was much sought after at every race meeting. He was the most tender-hearted man imaginable about his horses and preferred to have them shot rather than give them away or sell them, lest they should be subjected to ill-treatment. He was decidedly irascible, although generous to a fault, his name ever leading subscription lists. In fact, people traded on these qualities of his lordship, encouraging and putting up with one in order to profit by the other. H. P. Good in Montreal Mail.
