He saw clearly that the prize system is a vicious one and that better results may be obtained without it.

He proved this at a heavy cost by breeding better beasts than his rivals, who were all exhibitors and prizewinners, and who by this means got their advertisements and secured the highest prices, while he, who disdained prizes and looked with disgust at the overfed and polished animals at shows, got no advertisements and was compelled to sell at unremunerative prices.

The buyers, it may be mentioned, were always the breeders for shows, and they made a splendid profit out of it.
He carried on the fight for a good many years, becoming more and more involved, until his creditors took possession of the estate, sold off the stock, let the farms, and succeeded in finding a tenant for the furnished house.

He went to a cottage in the village and there passed his remaining years.

To the world he appeared unmoved by his reverses.
The change from mansion and park to a small thatched cottage, with a labourer's wife for attendant, made no change in the man, nor did he resign his seat on the Bench of Magistrates or any other unpaid office he held.