At the invitation of the Eastern Horse Club of Boston, Mass., I assisted at the Races which were held at the Country Club in Brookline on June 15th and 17th. The Committee of the Eastern Horse Club includes the cream of New England Society, and amongst others Messrs. John R. Macomber, Bayard Tuckerman, Jr., and Charles S. Bird, who are the joint owners of the estate in Bective, County Meath, which was formerly the property of Mr. John Watson. These three gentlemen are raising horses in Ireland, and they were of the opinion that my presence at the Races would encourage the idea, which is gaining ground in hunting circles in this country, that in order to qualify for the first rank in society (sporting circles) it is indispensable to own an Irish horse. One of the judges at the Races informed me that he imported twelve hunters from Ireland this Spring, and that he has orders for twelve more.
I noticed that only one person amongst those prominently identified with the Eastern Horse Club and the Brookline Country Club bore an Irish name, and certainly none of those with whom I came in contact seemed to have any Irish antecedents - they are nearly all of pure New England stock - but they seemed, nevertheless, enthusiastic about the Saorstát and particularly about hunting and horse racing. Many of them had hunted in Ireland, and many more were eagerly looking forward to that pleasure in the near future.
A number of these people who are, in many respects pro-English in everything perhaps but politics, have hunted in Leicestershire and other places in England, but without exception they returned more or less disillusioned by the reception they received. They were treated courteously but coldly, and they came back home disappointed at not having been able to break through the Englishman's reserve, or to develop any lasting friendship amongst the country gentlemen there. On the other hand, those who have been to Ireland were enthusiastic about the genuine hospitality which they encountered everywhere. No American suffers from an inferiority complex there, and there are no social barriers to be broken down. This is a valuable asset for the Saorstát if only our sporting people know how to exploit it more advantageously.
On the evening of the 14th of June, I was the guest of honour at a dinner given by Mr. Harry A. Vaughan, Master of the Norfolk (Mass.) Hunt, at which Masters of forty other Hunts from different parts of the Eastern States assisted, all wearing their scarlet hunting coats. On being called upon to speak, I related incidents in connection with the West Carbery and East Carbery Hounds, which came directly under my notice many years ago. As I sat down, the other guests stood up and sang 'For He's a Jolly Good Fellow'. Amongst the speakers was Mr. Harry Smith, who was for two years Master of the Meath Hounds. He seems to be a most ardent advocate of the Saorstát for hunting. Last year he arranged with an American publisher to put on the market a complete collection of the works of Somerville and Ross, with most satisfactory results. They were able to hand Miss Somerville a cheque for $38,000.00 out of the proceeds of the sale, five or six weeks ago, while on a visit to this country. Other speakers were General Peabody who has not missed Punchestown Races for the last ten years, and Mr. George Brooks, Master of the Philadelphia Hunt, who proposes to invite the Saorstát Army Officers jumping team to participate at their next year's races. I informed Mr. Brooks that such an invitation could not be entertained by our officers unless all the necessary expenses likely to be incurred by them in connection with such a visit were guaranteed in advance.
Mr. John R. Macomber, already referred to, who is one of the Governors of the Eastern Horse Club, belongs to a very important Stockbroking firm in Chicago. He inquired of me as to whether the Saorstát proposed to raise another loan in the United States, and mentioned that if so his own firm would like to be permitted to participate. As I have no precise information on the subject, I did not consider it would serve any useful purpose to discuss it. On June 15th, the opening day of the races, a luncheon was offered by Mrs. Weld, one of the leaders of New England society, to about 150 persons, at which I was the guest of honour. On the same evening, I attended a dinner in the same capacity which was given by the President of the Race Committee, Mr. Augustus F. Goodwin, to about 100 persons. Mr. Goodwin, whose race colours are green, white and gold, ran six horses at the races and won two first prizes.
On Sunday, the 16th, I assisted at another luncheon at Mr. Goodwin's home at Hamilton, about 40 miles from Boston, at which about 60 persons partook. There I spoke again on the superior quality of the Irish horses and the attractions of Ireland from the hunting and racing point of view.
On Sunday evening, I attended another large dinner party as the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Sears of Manchester, Mass., and on Monday, the 17th, lunched with Mr. and Mrs. West at Saltanstall, Brookline (about 200 guests). I was also invited to be the principal guest at a dinner of the New England Race Stewarts on that evening at the Boston Club, but was obliged to decline. Several other invitations of a like nature were received, which it was impossible for me to accept.
I have come to the conclusion that my visit to these Races has been useful in many respects. In the first place, as an advertisement for Irish horses, then, of Ireland as a place of resort par excellence for people interested in racing and hunting, and last, but not least, the fact that the most exclusive society in New England holds that the presence of the Saorstát Minister adds prestige and éclat to their most important annual function. When it will be remembered that, up to a few years ago, the Irish were looked down upon by these people, the change that has come about in their way of thinking, in particular since the establishment of the Saorstát, has been considerable. It is another proof that the Irish people in this country are no longer at the foot of the social ladder, and that they have, to a greater degree than some of them would like to admit, benefited by the establishment of the Saorstát.
The Cadillac Company of Boston placed one of their most luxurious automobiles at my disposal during my visit to Boston.
