t, and a good
companion. Tom Power was another good trainer, and Johnny Hill, who
trained Auraria, the Melbourne Cup winner. The pride of place amongst
breeders was then taken by Sir Thomas Elder. The stud farm at
Morphetville left nothing to be desired. The renowned chestnut, Gang
Forward, and a big-boned bay horse named Neckesgat were the lords of the
harem. Some twenty brood mares, descendants of the best strains of
thoroughbred stock, had been brought together, and many a good horse
which played about as a foal at Morphetville's beautiful paddocks
afterwards won classical races.

Sir Thomas Elder was at this time fairly on the wrong side of fifty. He
was a bachelor. He and his brother-in-law, Mr. Barr Smith, were the heads
of that well-known firm, Elder, Smith and Co., which was interested in
many important concerns, and, _inter alia_, represented the P. & O. S. N.
Co., mail contractors to Australia. This company's ships called in at
Adelaide once a week, the incoming and outgoing mail in turn. Sir Thomas
usually invited the captain to his house during the steamer's stay in the
roadstead.

They used to tell of him that though he took the greatest pleasure in the
Morphetville stud, he knew but little about horses. Sir Thomas delighted
in taking his guests through the paddocks, his manager close beside him.
"Now there," Sir Thomas would say, "isn't that a fine horse? Now, Mr.
Ellworthy, just tell us all about him." It was generally a her. But when
he came to White Arab stallion Mr. Ellworthy's services were not
required. Sir Thomas's partner, Mr. Robert Barr Smith, might well be
named the Grand Old Man of South Australia. He died at a very ripe old
age--a charming personality, a shrewd man of business, a most generous
citizen whose gifts were munificent, and equalled only by those of his
brother-in-law, Sir Thomas. Mr. Barr Smith's principal home, Torrens
Park, some six miles from Adelaide, situated at the foot of the hills,
was always open house to his friends. I can never forget the many happy
days I spent there, and who, of the many who were privileged to be their
friends, can ever forget the charming personality, the sweet ways, and
the generous nature of Mrs. Barr Smith?

My pen runs away with me when I think of all my kind friends in those
happy days. But let me not forget one family, the Bakers of Morialta. The
Hon. John Baker was one of the first citizens of Adelaide to appreciate
the value of the Mount Lof