text:
How I ever came to be a friend and ally, co-conspirator and business partner, of Tobias Starkweather it is not important to relate. The moralist might find in the narrative a painful instance of moral disintegration and decay, the cynic might smile and regard the whole episode as indicating nothing more culpable than childish credulity and vanity.
For this reason the story will never be told. I am satisfied that those who have shared with me an interest in horses, those in whose veins has flowed the deadliest virus known to man, will understand. They know that this interest is fraught with many dramatic possibilities, and that it may lead the most virtuous of men, on occasion, perilously near the rocks of moral turpitude.
There is no human interest that leads a man in stranger or more fascinating paths. There is no human relationship that introduces him to a more interesting group of his fellows or enables him to rub elbows with a more alluring multitude of kindred enthusiasts.
From the moment that a horse lover takes his first tentative steps into this half-gypsy land of paddock and race track, auction room and hunting field, when he first feels within him the stirrings of a strange desire, and learns to know that it is the call of the horse, from that moment he treads the paths of a new and wonderful country.
It is not alone the noble beast that allures; it is far more the followers in his train—men and women, rich and poor, wise and foolish, virtuous and vicious, all actuated by motives ranging from the noblest and purest to the most sordid and unworthy.
It was into this unknown world that at I ventured many years ago, and in it I have seen strange things and stranger people. It was in this land that I first encountered Tobias, and for many months I dwelt there with him. It had been written in the book of fate that we should meet. I was the one person in the world suited to Tobias and his needs, and he was for me as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. The most trivial circumstance brought about this epochal meeting. I desired a horse. Not any horse, for I had long since passed that early stage. I desired one particular and special horse. There was nothing unusual about this. I was in a chronic state of desire, if not for it is one horse, then for another. Poets have sung the anguish of mortals in the agony of desire for a loved one. They ably have told the poignant story of human love, but they have never sung, so far as I know, the love of a man for a horse, the all-conquering lust for possession that seizes a man when he sees the horse of his dreams. When this is done the Great Epic will have been created.
I desired a horse, and with cold deliberation and callous indifference to the consequences conspired to secure him. At this point Tobias came into the picture. The fullness of time had come. Tobias and I were to meet. It was a moment of tremendous significance to us both, though we did not realize it at the time. Tobias came to me with credentials as the one intermediary who could secure the desired horse for me. Blinded as I was, at the moment, by the fervor of my longing, I did not regard Tobias as an instrument to this end.
The negotiations proved long and difficult. I was still inexperienced enough to find it almost impossible to to dissemble my desires, and I marveled at the coldly indifferent manner in which Tobias approached the owner. I've since grown to regard as one of his most engaging qualities the horseman's ability to stifle all his longings and to conduct long and delicate transactions in a manner of utter boredom. On many occasions I should have despaired of a fortunate outcome had I not been buoyed up by Tobias's unfailing optimism and hopefulness.
At last, however, I secured the horse. Even this triumphant conclusion of labors did not excite Tobias. He. brought me the news with the same air of world-weary indifference that had characterized him from the first. It is true that my exultation was somewhat tempered by the fact that the price paid for the beast was considerably higher than that I had authorized Tobias to pay, but this did not seem to be a matter of interest to him. Nor did the horse prove to be the jewel I had wanted, but Tobjas assured me that they rarely were; and after all, he pointed out, it was I who had wanted to the animal, not he. Had he consulted his own convictions in the matter, he would have purchased a quite different horse, but as I had expressed an unalterable determination to possess this one, here he was. It was clear that Tobias was quite guiltless in the matter.
After a few months of troubled and disillusioning ownership, I sought Tobias, this time to dispose of the horse for me. The previous owner had assured me that he had parted with the horse only under the pressure of temporary embarrassment, and that at any time he would be glad to buy him back at the price I paid for him.
I imparted this information to Tobias, but he did not seem to be impressed by it. The process of selling was much more rapid than that of purchasing, despite the fact that the previous owner was still in difficulties and could not buy the horse as he most ardently desired. In fact, as Tobias explained to me, the horse market was in a very unsettled condition, and if I desired to sell (which I most certainly did) he advised me to take any offer I could get. Things were very bad. Again Tobias triumphed. I sold at a figure considerably below the lowest I had fixed, but any sale just then was a miracle, so Tobias said.
By this time Tobias was firmly woven into the warp and woof of my horse life. On the whole I profited by it. But sordid motives were the smallest factor in my regard for Tobias. His appearance alone was enough to reward me. A tiny scrap of a man, he might have been thirty, he might have been sixty. I never could decide. As I listened enthralled to the recitals of his experiences I leaned toward the higher figure, for no man of less than sixty could have had time to have all the things happen to him that had happened to Tobias. Yet as I grew to know him and witnessed repeated feats of strength and agility I knew he must still be young. His face gave no hint of his age. Sallow, almost colorless, it still had the fresh contours of youth. An utterly mirthless mouth, a head almost entirely bereft of hair, contrasted strangely with a mouthful of perfect teeth of unimpeachable genuineness. He was always clad in riding togs of a strange and indiscriminate nature, and yet he had that gift, so infrequently seen in men, of so wearing clothes, no matter what they were, that he looked well groomed and well set up.
For some time our relations were not intimate, nor were our contacts frequent. Tobias seemed to have no place of permanent residence. If I wished to find him I had to make a circuit of the salesrooms and stables, and sooner or later I would find him, dapper, shaven, clean, but as usual in the depths of an unconquerable melancholy. He appeared glad to see me, but never greeted me with enthusiasm, and never appeared to part from me with regret.
Then a never-to-be-forgotten day dawned. At an early hour I was interrupted at breakfast by the announcement that Tobias was without. I had not seen him for months. He had a habit of disappearing for long periods, and these absences were never explained. His intimates could not enlighten me, because he had no intimates. Before greeting him I telephoned my business associates that matters of the utmost importance might keep me busy all day. I felt that the day upon which Tobias sought me out was sure to be pregnant with possibilities.
Tobias greeted me in sadness, and the talk flowed along the easy channels of mutual horse interest. I waited for him to arrive at the matter in hand by his usual circuitous methods. At length I was rewarded. I wish I could reproduce with any justice the melancholy sweetness of his recital. In substance I was told that a series of most unfortunate events had reduced Tobias to financial extremities unknown before, He blamed no one, least of all himself. They were due to the uncertainties inherent in his calling, and when disaster came it must be patiently borne.
Financial extremity was no new experience for Tobias—I knew that—but on this occasion difficulties had arisen at a most unfortunate moment, just when fortune was about to smile. The circumstances appeared to be these. There was a horse we both knew. His reputation was bad; it could not be worse. Tobias felt sure, however, that his shortcomings were due to his environment and to lack of proper care and training. His career on the turf had been a series of misfortunes, accidents, and tragedies. He was now for sale, having nearly killed a stableboy and having lost two important steeplechases from a sullen refusal to leave the post. The price was low, but an immediate sale desired. Tobias saw a chance to retrieve all past losses. He wished to purchase the horse, spend as many months as necessary on his education and the correction of his faults, and then race him another season. But most unfortunately, at just this moment, his finances were at the lowest possible ebb.
At this point, it seems, he had thought of me. Not at all as a possible source of money, but rather as the person to whom he could offer a priceless privilege. I had long enjoyed, he knew, the pleasures of the hunting field and show ring, and now he felt was the time for me to enter into a larger field of equine activity. It was high time I tasted the joys of the turf, and felt the thrill of winning a race with a horse of my own. To buy an outlaw, educate him, and win with him! That was something to do.
Tobias came as near showing enthusiasm as I ever saw him. He unfolded the plan. For the moment it would be necessary for me to furnish the money for the price of the horse. Tobias did not enlarge on this; it was a matter of no great concern who did it. He would give me a note for half the price and we could be joint owners and partners. He would conduct the education of our stable, and ride our horse in the races in which we entered him.
As Tobias led me on through all the stages of our progress, and showed me how inevitably we should reach that crowning hour when we should flash under the wire a winner amid the frenzied acclaim of a mighty throng, my blood began to tingle. I did not confess to him that in my wildest hours I had already dreamed this dream, and longed for its realization.
True to my horseman instincts, I demurred. I pointed out all the difficulties, and enlarged upon the almost certain failure of our hopes. Tobias listened in respectful silence, and then asked if I should like to visit the horse. We did so. I had seen the creature before, but never realized what a perfect beast he was. He was the handsomest thing that ever stood on shoes. Tobias pointed out to me certain physical indications of stamina and speed, and assured me that from my own experience I should see that he was one horse in ten thousand. He certainly looked to be. I gazed long and earnestly at his eyes. They attracted my attention, for I had never seen such human eyes in a horse's head before. With all their beauty, there was a look of baffled cynicism in them. They fascinated me. They seemed to look out on a world made for disappointment; they told a story of unrewarded effort, of uncrowned strife, and seemed to say that, after all, the world's rewards are but sounding brass and tinkling cymbal.
The horse was purchased in what struck me as a very short time. There seemed to be no doubt that the owner wished to part with him. He gave us minute directions as to his care and management, and seemed deeply concerned lest we both come to an untimely end. Tobias seemed to have provided for most of the details in advance. He had secured quarters for the horse, and all I had to do was to hand the owner a check and receive a note for half the amount duly signed by Tobias.
After careful consideration we selected a name. Tobias was indifferent as to what it should be, provided it began with A. This seemed important to him for some occult reason, and I could raise no valid objection beyond the fact that it restricted our choice. Finally I decided upon Alcantara. The name met Tobias's requirement in regard to the A, and it had for me certain romantic literary associations.
The weeks that followed our purchase of Alcantara—I could never teach Tobias not to accent the second syllable—were uneventful except that I soon discovered which half of Alcantra I owned. I was in firm possession of the forward end, the end that was fed. Each month I received mounting bills for grain, as well as for strange accoutrements with which I was not familiar. Each month Tobias calculated to a penny, and sent me a note for an exact half of the expenses.
I did not see much of Alcantara, but Tobias reported progress, and he seemed satisfied with his pupil. For some reason he did not care to appear before the world as even half-owner, and he allowed it to think that I owned the horse and that he was in my employ as trainer. I attributed this, at first, to Tobias's natural modesty, but I soon learned that there were the best of reasons why Tobias did not wish to appear to have any possessions of any character. So I assumed the entire responsibility of ownership with all its attendant glories and inconveniences.
One morning I was told that Alcantra was right. He had been moved to a large training stable, and Tobias had been working him over the jumps for some time. The expense of keeping him here was considerably greater, but, as Tobias pointed out, this was unavoidable if I meant to do the right thing by the horse. He never said 'we'; he always spoke as if I had sole authority. 1 was flattered by this, and soon came to regard myself as a full-fledged owner. I read the racing papers and followed the exploits of other horses. I knew their records and the details of their age and class.
Upon being asked to visit the horse, I brushed aside all business matters and went to the scene of action. It was an extensive and beautiful estate used entirely for the care and schooling of horses. By some means, unknown to me, Tobias had secured admission, and was using the schooling fields. There was a steeplechase course laid out for schooling, and it was over this that Tobias intended to give Alcantara his first serious work, and he wished me to witness it.
Tobias greeted me and led me to the stable. If Alcantara had been a thing of beauty when I first beheld him, he was a thousand times more so after weeks of care and attention. He was led out for his owner's inspection. I could not conceal my admiration, bad form as I knew it to be to express it. Tobias pronounced him to be fair, but added that further improvement was possible. Tobias mounted, and assumed that curious crouching position affected by jockeys. To me it always seemed the most perilous of ways to ride a horse. Alcantara held a high head, and used his feet daintily. As he trod the yielding turf he was the personification of beauty, strength, grace. He pranced and whirled restlessly at the starting line, and Tobias gently moved him along to the point lip wanted. At a prearranged signal Tobias let him go. He passed me—a blur of shining satin, and thundering hoofs. I watched him through my glasses as he gracefully cleared barrier after barrier, and approached a water jump at the far end of the course. At this point I saw him swerve from his course and disappear. Long and patiently I awaited his return. Finally, far off on the horizon, a tiny speck appeared. It was Alcantra returning home. Tobias was crouched on his back, and as he passed me I caught a glimpse of a face as expressionless as the back of my hand. If Tobias was ill at ease he did not betray it.
After the details of Alcantara's toilet were attended to Tobias joined me.
'What happened?' I asked.
'He ran away,' Tobias replied, and that was his sole comment.
I returned to the city and left Tobias to solve the difficulty of making Alcantara go in the right direction at the right time. I felt sure that if this could be done, and if he proceeded with anything like the rapidity he had shown that afternoon, there was not a living horse that could pass him.
From then on Tobias worked in secret. I saw no more trials and had only meagre reports from the training field. Tobias and I had a few conferences at which we decided to play for high stakes. We elected to let the minor race-meets go, and to enter Alcantara in the Bedford Steeplechase. This was described as an open steeplechase for gentlemen or professional riders—about three miles of natural country, over post and rails and brush.
Then followed detailed statements as to weights and other restrictions. The prize was a small purse and a piece plate—but immense prestige. We knew the field would be large and the quality good, and the winner would jump in value and reputation. Both Tobias and Alcantara were found to meet all the requirements of the committee in charge. Tobias attended to all the details and I signed the entry bIank and paid the minor expenses. It was necessary for us to appear under colors. This I left entirely to Tobias, who acquired, at my expense, appropriate garments to wear on the eat day. His taste in this connection was not what I could have wished it to be. He chose a tunic of pure white with sleeves slashed with lavender, and a lavender and white striped cap. It was bit more conspicuous than the modest extent of my racing stable seemed to testify, but here I felt that Tobias shouldould have his way, as he was to appear in the garments, not I.
The week before the race I saw little of Tobias. He spent all his time with Alcantra, or else in moody cogitation. I found business affairs irksome and could not seem to keep my mind off the pending trial of speed. The sporting sections of the newspapers were a solace until they began to discuss the race and estimate the contestants. Scant attention was paid to Alcantara by any of the writers. Only one referred to him at length, and then merely to enlarge on his bad behavior during training. As the day of the race approached, however, many strange stories began to appear. Not only were his bad manners discussed, but there were hints of lack of condlition, and innuendo as to physical blemishes. I was enraged by this and sought Tobias to see what could be done to stem the tide of misstatement. Tobias professed never to have heard of any of it, and as he was evidently deeply engrossed in more important matters, as well as suffering from a severe attack of melancholia, I decided to accept his dictum that the less said, the sooner mended.
At last the fateful day came. I was early on the field, and felt strangely nervous and ill at ease. I read the entry list a thousand times, and recovered my composure a little when I saw the name of Alcantara, and my own as owner. Details of Alcantara's age, sex, and color were given, as well as my racing colors, and T. Starkweather was announced as the rider. The field was all that could be desired. It included the best the region could produce, and I recognized some horses who had substantial reputations.
Tobias sought me out and again assured me that the horse was right. He suggested that a small wager on him might be profitable. I am not a betting man, but the last weeks had affected me strangely. I had begun to feel a large catholicity of spirit toward all the details of horse ownership and horse racing, and I allowed Tobias to conduct me to a flamboyant young man, who placed a modest sum for me at the surprising odds of 30 to 1. Again I sought Tobias to learn the reason for the odds being so against Alcantara. The incident had shaken my faith in him, and I began to think my visions of possible victory empty dreams. Tobias felt that the odds were probably the result of the unfortunate items in the press, but he pointed out that they meant larger profits if we won, which seemed to me a sordid point of view.
I had secured a box and had invited a few of my intimate friends to occupy it with me. I had chosen those who had been in the secret of my ownership from the first, and who seemed to regard my entering the racing game with less concern than some others, notably my business associates.
The first races on the fiat, and a minor steeplechase or two, seemed to me perfunctory and spiritless, though the crowd seemed to enjoy them. Late in the afternoon the Bedford was announced, and there was an evident stirring of interest among the lookers-on. The board at the judges' stand gave the field, and I noted with some concern that none of the favorites had been scratched. Proudly I saw the name of T. Starkweather appear with the number nine. As I sat tearing my programme to shreds with nervous fingers, I tried to think what suggestions of good fortune the number nine indicated. I could think of nothing but the Muses, and their connection with horse racing seemed remote.
Then came the parade from the paddock. Led by a scarlet-coated official, the eleven contestants passed the grandstand. Had I been in a normal condition, I should have been thrilled by it. Eleven creatures, sleek, sinewy, nervous, with tossing, impatient heads, foam-flecked fore quarters, and dainty tread, they seemed hardly to touch the soft earth beneath their feet. On the back of each a crouching little figure brilliant in gaudy satin.
They weighed in. I watched Alcantra. For sheer beauty he was peer of the best. He seemed strangely docile, and I tried desperately to read the secret of those baffling eyes. I finally got them in my glass for a fleeting second, and I saw the same strange, tired look, the same eternal interrogation that always appeared there. As Tobias remounted I watched his face. Sallow, thin from weeks of training, there was not a shadow of expression of any sort. His face was as baffling as Alcantra's eyes.
They were off to the post just within my line of vision. For a while confusion reigned. Turning, milling, rearing, it seemed impossible that an orderly start could ever be made. This was the crucial moment. Would Alcantara start? This was the uncertainty. If he did, there was a fair chance that he would finish well up; if not, it was all over. I watched him closely. Tobias had his hands full, and was maneuvering skillfully. I had noticed that he carried no whip and his heels were innocent of spurs. Now he seemed to need them. Instead he leaned still farther over and caressed the nervous neck before him.
They were off. Thanks to some strange good fortune, Alcantara had consented to start with them. They thundered by in a blur of-color, closely bunched, with Alcantara holding a respectable position to the fore. The race was twice around a prescribed course, beginning and ending on the home stretch of the race track. In a few seconds they were on the turf and out of sight for the moment. As advised by Tobias, I at once joined a throng of spectators rushing to points of vantage. With a hundred others I sought the water jump, the last jump before reentering the race course. Being long of limb and spurred by an excitement I had never known before, I outstripped the others and placed myself where I commanded a perfect view of the jump and its approach.
How long I waited I do not know. It seemed hours. Then a stableboy, whose ears were acute from constant attendance at races, smote me mightily on the back and shouted in my ear. Now I could hear that matchless sound, the beat of hoofs on firm turf, and over the crest of a little hill appeared the head and shoulders of a rider. It was not Tobias, and my heart sank. Down a steep dip they came, headlong for the brush and water. Singly and in pairs they rose and sailed incredibly, landing in their stride, and tearing off again in a welter of color and confusion.. The jump took its toll, for here two horses went down. Some mischance, some misstep or ill-considered move by their riders, brought them down, one clear of the water, the other half in it. The jockeys rolled like balls of bright silk and were barely missed by the following horses, and the field went on. Of the eleven starters I counted nine at the jump. The two that went down left only seven in the running, and of these AIcantara was the fifth. They had to complete the circuit twice, so I rushed back to another jump near enough the grandstand to permit me to regain my box to see the finish.
At this jump Alcantara had moved up to third position and was running easily. Of the two horses ahead of him was faltering, but the other had evidently not extended himself, and was running easily under the restrained hand of a smiling and confident rider.
Here I got a good look at both Tobias and his mount. Tobias was well forward on his horse's neck, tense and rigid, his enormous lavender sleeves ballooning out behind him. His lips were moving—not in prayer, I fancy, but in some strange jockey incantation. He was telling Alcantara something, and the horse was listening. As they flashed by I saw a new Alcantara. Gone was the cynic's pose, gone the bewildered, questioning look in the eyes; in their stead were a fire and a will to win that had transfigured him. After the jump was cleared Tobias sat down to ride. As they vanished, the stooping shoulders were sinking lower and lower, the cramped knees coming higher and higher, and the hands reaching out nearer and nearer the tossing head.
I returned to my box. There was nothing to do now but to live through the dreadful moments until they reappeared. I pressed my hand to my aching eyes. I was dimly conscious of some jocular remarks from my companions. I did not have long to waft. On the brow of the hill just before the water jump they appeared for a second, and almost even with the leader I saw the lavender and white. Tobias had moved up! Would he survive the water jump a second time? I closed my eyes again. Then the throng rose as a man, and far off I heard cheering. The moment of my dreams had come. Down the stretch they raced, stride for stride, the rival jockey resorting to whip and spur. Tobias was so far forward that he could almost whisper in the sensitive ears, and his lips were moving convulsively. On they came. A few scant rods ahead was the finish, and, as yet, it was the race for either. Suddenly Alcantara seemed to gather himself. Tobias raised his head and shoulders a bit and Alcantara pushed his nose by his rival. The horse faltered for a second, and Alcantara swept under the wire a clean length in the lead.
I do not recall what happened then, except that I dimly remember clambering out of the box into a milling crowd. One by one the horses returned with drooping heads and heaving flanks. They were stripped, and the jockeys and their kit again weighed. I sought out Alcantara. He stood proudly in the surging crowd with head erect, nostrils distended and eyes gleaming. All at once I found myself beside him. I threw my arm over his neck and heard the whirr and click of countless cameras. Someone appeared with an immense floral horseshoe and laid it on Alcantara's neck; again the cameras clicked and whirred. Tobias joined me. I wrung his hand. Words failed me. A stableboy, my stableboy, a complete stranger to me, assisted Tobias, and Aicantara was shrouded in an enormous cooler and led away.
It was over. The hour of my dream had come and passed. Again I confronted a battery of cameras, this time holding an ornate piece of plate. I sought the stable. Tobias was in no mood to talk. I told him to come to me in the evening, and with my wildly jubilant companions I motored home. We were recognized at every turn, and cheers and shouts of congratulation greeted us everywhere. I was in a daze. The whole thing seemed unreal; everything but the memory of the face of my business partner, of which I caught a momentary glimpse as I posed with the silver pitcher. It was not a pleasant face to remember.
We dined sumptuously at the club and I insisted on paying for everything. This was my night, I explained, and besides, the Committee would be sending me a sizable check in the morning. After dinner I hastened home to meet Tobias. I half expected to find him there on my return. He had not come, so I sent out for all the evening papers, particularly those more devoted to the gentle art of horse racing. I read every word of them all. In every one I saw my picture. In some of the photographs I held the pitcher, but in most of them I had my arm caressingly around Alcantara's neck. None of the pictures, I thought, did justice to either Alcantara or myself, and my smile seemed peculiarly silly and fatuous.
I finished the papers, and still Tobias failed to appear. After an hour or two I resorted to the telephone. I could not find him at any of the places I thought he. might frequent on this memorable evening. The race track failed to respond, the training quarters knew naught of Tobias or the horse.
With aching head I went to bed and passed a night of troubled dreams. I was up early and breakfasted alone. The morning papers gave me some solace. But it all seemed cold and perfunctory now.
The doorbell rang in the distance, and I was brought a letter and a tiny bundle. The letter proved to be a laconic communication from Tobias. In the briefest manner I was told that, a few hours after our triumph, Alcantara had passed out of this world of turmoil and trouble. Heart strain in the race—that was all; it was not uncommon, Tobias would see me soon, but in the meantime he had sent me a memento of Alcantara. I opened the bundle and found a dainty racing shoe scarcely scratched by use.
I sat for a moment stunned by the unexpected news; then I determined to be up and doing. I dashed to the race track. Tobias was not there; nor was Alcantara. I made inquiries, only to learn that Tobias and the horse had departed for an undesignated destination. I spent the day following fruitless clues.
I declined an invitation to a congratulatory dinner to be given that night by friends, and spent the evening in the solitude of my library in thoughtful mood. I reviewed with care all the incidents of my association with Tobias. I recalled one detail that I had forgotten. Before the race, Tobias and I had agreed that, should Alcantara win or make a respectable showing, we should sell him at once at as high a figure as possible. In my sober moments I had no desire to continue in the racing game, and Tobias pointed out that the interest in Alcantara would be passing. Some other horse would eclipse him and his value would drop. To this end I had executed a document authorizing Tobias to negotiate a sale, in his own name, at any price satisfactory to him. I had suggested such an arrangement after witnessing one of Alcantara's most perverse and ill-mannered performances during his schooling. His conduct had made me despair of ever selling him at all.
Recalling this act of imbecility on my part, I cursed Tobias as a faithless friend. Then there appeared before me the face of my vanished partner in all the pathos of his melancholy. I saw again the drooping corners of his youthful mouth, and his old man's eyes, tired and lustreless, and I knew I wronged him. I thought of him as bowed with grief, hiding from the world, and waiting for the first poignancy of his sorrow to pass that he might seek me out.
I found no allusion in the press to the passing of the winner of the Bedford. I made no more inquiries, with a hideous suspicion gnawing my heart, I felt that all my relations to this unfortunate horse had best be buried in a grave as unmarked and unknown as his own.
I solved now the mystery of Alcantra's eyes. He had seen from the first the futility of the whole enterprise. He had known, come what might, victory or defeat, triumph or humiliation, we should be parted. If not an untimely end, then the duplicity of man would sever us forever. For one crowded hour he had determined to live, or some strange alchemy was wrought by the whispering lips of the little man bestride him. For a few glorious moments he would be king, and king he was.
The following days brought painful reminders of the past. Bills of all sorts came in, among them one for a floral horseshoe that cost a prince's ransom. These I paid without comment.
One evening, being in reminiscent mood, I picked up a copy of a sporting sheet which I had affected during my brief period of ownership. The first item which attracted my attention was the announcement of the sale of Alcantara, the recent winner of the Bedford, by his 'owner and trainer,' T. Starkweather. The price was staggering.
I read it carefully, folded the paper with precision, and laid it beneath a horseshoe on my desk.
I returned to the routine of my former life, and after many months restored my associates' shaken confidence. I could have taken stern measures to find Tobias and wrest from him my share of his ill-gotten gains. But to what purpose? It was vastly better that the glamour of my brief career on the turf should fade gradually and not be extinguished with a sordid quarrel.
The lavender and white no more flash beneath autumnal suns over grassy meads. As an owner I no longer participate in the pleasures of the race. But sometimes, when in pensive mood, I wonder. Where is Tobias? Through what devious paths is that little, silent, joyless man threading his way? Has he a partner in horses now, and who is he? Will Alcantara start, and if he does will he continue in the desired direction? Is he still living his perplexed and questioning life over brush and rails on natural country? If so, where? I do not know. I do not care.
I had my hour.
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to email@example.com.


text:
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University football team scored on each of its first seven possessions as the host Bears rolled to a 48-21 New England Football Conference (NEFC) Bogan Division victory over Maine Maritime Academy on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.
Bridgewater improves to 8-1 on the season and 5-1 in the Bogan Division, while Maine Maritime falls to 0-8 overall and 0-6 in divisional play. The Bears now lead the all-time series, 24-21-1. Prior to the game, the Bears honored 18 seniors who were playing in their final regular season home game.
Senior running back Ben Desmarais (South Hadley, Mass.) rushed for three touchdowns and junior quarterback Mike McCarthy (Edgartown, Mass.) threw for a 42-yard touchdown and added a six-yard scoring run to lead the BSU offense. Senior running back Mike Gentili (Leominster, Mass.) rushed for a team-best 85 yards on 11 carries and found the end zone on a ten-yard run.
McCarthy completed 2 of 2 passes for 55 yards and also added 39 yards on the ground on just four carries. McCarthy hooked up with junior receiver Matt Green (Stoughton, Mass.) on the 42-yard TD pass to open the scoring. McCarthy would give the Bears a 14-0 lead with his six-yard run and Desmarais notched his first touchdown of the day from five yards out to close out the first quarter scoring.
Sophomore running back Blaise Branch (Brockton, Mass.) staked Bridgewater to a 27-0 lead early in the second quarter on a seven-yard TD run. Gentili's touchdown made in 34-0 and Desmarais found the end zone from five yards out with 4:44 remaining in the first half to make it 41-0.
Maine Maritime freshman quarterback Michael Fahey (Union, Mass.) got the Mariners on the board with a two-yard touchdown run with just five seconds left in the half. Fahey played well off the bench for the Mariners as he completed all three of his pass attempts for 57 yards and rushed for 85 yards on 21 attempts.
The Bridgewater defense was outstanding over the first three quarters. The Bears gave up just 140 yards of total offense through three periods, forced three turnovers (two fumbles, one interception) and recorded ten tackles for loss including a pair of sacks.
Desmarais rounded out the scoring for the Bears with a one-yard TD plunge to give the hosts a 48-7 lead.
Maine Maritime would score a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns on a Dylan Webster (Belfast, Maine) one-yard run and a Wade Severance (Hollis Center, Maine) 54-yard fumble return to account for the final tally of 48-21.
Junior defensive end Tate Doehler (Lakeville, Mass.) paced the BSU defense with five solo tackles with a sack and two tackles for loss. He also forced and recovered a fumble and batted down a pass. Senior linebacker Alex Monteiro (Portsmouth, R.I.) added six solo stops, while sophomore linebacker David Silvia (Barrington, R.I.) notched five tackles, including two for loss, and forced a fumble. Senior cornerback Vincent Henry (Middleboro, Mass.) came up with the Bears' interception as he picked off his second pass of the season. Senior defensive tackle Paul Melicharek (Glen Rock, N.J.) added three solo tackles including a sack. Melicharek leads the team with 17 tackles for loss and 6 ½ sacks.
Bridgewater was flagged for 15 penalties in the game for 155 yards, both season highs. The Bears had two long rushing touchdowns called back on holding penalties on the same drive in the third quarter, and also had what would have been a 61-yard punt return for a touchdown called back on an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Bridgewater did not score on either drive.
Next Saturday, Bridgewater will head to Buzzards Bay to take on Massachusetts Maritime Academy in the 34th Annual Ocean Spray Cranberry Bowl. Kickoff is slated for noon. Maine Maritime travels New London, Connecticut for a noontime game at Coast Guard.
Notes: With his rushing touchdown, McCarthy tied Jeff Caputo (1993-93) for 15th place on the Bears' all-time scoring list as he now has 132 points in his career.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Modal header
One fine body…
521 cmr access accessibility ada adaag americans with disabilities architectural access blind cdbg civil rights community access project community access project of somerville disabilities disability disability access disability discrimination disability rights discrimination hud human rights inaccessible inclusion section 504 somerville somerville ma wheelchairs more…
"ada "disabilities "disability "municipal "section "somerville "structural "volunteer "voting #a11y #maleg #mapoli 24cfr 504 504" 521 cmr 521 cr 521cmr aab abilities ability access access & opportunity access and opportunity access by design access to arts access to equal education access to opportunities access to the arts access violations accessdenied accessibililty accessibility accessibility advocacy accessibility compliance accessibility violations accessibility" accessible accessible arts programming accessible event planning accessible facility accessible housing accessible routes accessibleformats accountable acs act action ada ada coordinator responsibilities ada title ii ada violations adaag adaptable housing advocacy advocacy" affh affirmative planning affordable affordable housing age amca america american community survey americans americans with disabilities americans with disabilities act analysis apartheid architectural access architectural accessibility architecturalaccess armory facility armory in somerville assistance barriers barriers to employment beacon hill beauty blessing blind blind and visually impaired bloc blockgrantallocations boston architectural building code bus accessibility bus stop locations bus transit carnegielibraries cdbg cdbg spending cdbghomeesg census center chapter 90 funds chdo christine griffin cities citizen citizen engagement citizen journalism citizen recommendations city city of somerville city of somerville ada civic civic action civicparticipation civil civil rights civilrights commission commission" common law attorney-client privilege communicationaccess communications communications accessibility community community access community access project community access project of somerville community development block grant discrimination community development block grants program community preservation principles communitycenter communityservice comparative complete streets compliance coordinator" cultures curb cuts curtatone curtatone discrimination curtatone segregation danny leblanc denial of civil rights design annex dignity disa disabil disabilities disabilitiescommission disability disability access disability advocacy disability civil rights disability commission disability cultural competence disability culture disability discrimination disability discrimination disability rights civil disability disparities disability exclusion disability inclusion disability rights disability rights advocacy disability rights deferred disability rights movement disability-centric disability-inclusive development disabilityrights disabillity disabled disadvantaged discrimination discriminatory design disempowered disenfranchised disenfranchising doj doj 2010 architectural access standards doj 2010 standards for accessible design dol odep dot economic characteristics economic disadvantage economic justice economic opportunities economic self-sufficiency economically disadvantaged educational access educational attainment educational disparities educational opportunities eeo eeoc eileen feldman eilily elderly elderly/disabled housing elections ellis employment statistics empowerment enable engagement engineering entitlement grants equal employment equal opportunity equal rights equity ethnic evaluations exclusion executive exploitation facility access fair fair housing fairhousingimpediments families federalfunds feldman fhwa fiar housing flame flsa foia food stamps freedom fy2012 government culture governor patrick grants groups handicap handicap access handicapped hava health high school diploma historic preservation historic tax credits home homelessness homeownership housing housing accessibility housing and community development housing and urban development housing rights hud hud home funding hud regulations hud section 504 hud ufas hud-funded hudfunded housing human human righrs human rights human rights civil rights humanrights impediments to fair housing impunity inaccessibility inaccessible inaccessible facility inaccessible hud-funded program inaccessible municipal inaccessible municipal program inaccessible municipal programs inaccessible program inaccessible programs inclusion inclusive events individuals individuals with disabilities inequality inequality gap inequality gaps inequality in america inexcusable civil rights violation infrastructure integration isabella stewart gardner museum island july justice kirwan institute let's move list local government discrimination local government responsibilities local government secrecy low opportunity community ma ma architectural access board ma dhcd ma dot ma historical commission ma" maab mahouse bill management mass mass. public records division massachusetts massachusetts accessible housing disability rights massachusetts architectural massachusetts architectural access massachusetts architectural access board massachusetts department of transportation transpo massachusetts dept. of community development massachusetts disability rights massachusetts eohhs massachusetts historic preservation massachusetts housing massachusetts legislature massachusetts state building code massachusetts sustainable massdot masssachusetts mayor mayor curtatone mayor joseph e curtatone mbta minorities minority equality minority-owned business money municipal municipal civil rights municipal discrimination municipal obligations municipal planning municipal violations museum nationaladapt negligence" new construction noncompli nondiscrimination nondiscrimination on basis of disability nonprofit behavior nrsa obesity prevention but not disability discriminati office of federal contract compliance open meeting law opportunities opportunity communities partnerships pass patrick-murray administration pedestrian pedestrian access pedestrian rights of ways pedestrians people people with disabilities persons with disabilities pess political poverty poverty and disability poverty concentrations proactive programmatic access programmatic exclusion programs project-based housing prow prowag public public accommodations public health initiatives public meetings public record exemptions public records public rights of ways public safety public transportation public transportation access publicly-funded housing pwd qap recommendations redactions rehabilitation rehabilitation act rehabilitation act of 1973 rehabilitiation act of 1973 as amended report resident expertise residents with disabilities right to standards rights rights of ways rights to access rights to assemble rights to shelter ron marlow rulemaking scc schools section 503 section 504 section 504 federal regulations section504 segregation senior housing public comments senior advocacy som sensory disabilities shape up somerville discrimination sheltered workshops snaps social disadvantage social justice somerville somerville ma somerville accessible housing somerville ada somerville affordable housing somerville broadway streetscape project somerville cdbg spending somerville city hall somerville community corporation somerville health director somerville housing somerville library somerville ma somerville officials emails somerville violations somerville violations of human rights somervillema somervillevoices standards accessibility statistics stonewalled street reconstruction streetscape structural subminimum-wage jobs substandard housing conditions surgeon general survey sustainable technology the nation title ii of the ada towns transition plan transparency transportation disadvantaged transportation planning u.s. access board ufas unequal distribution of resources unfair wages union square main streets universal design universal rights urba environment urban design urban planning us census usability violations visitability visually impaired voters wheelcahirs wheelchair wheelchairs with withheld emails women-owned business workers with disabilities workforce equality …less
Content tagged "521cmr"
- AAB #C10 165 66-70 Unio… 6 years ago, 337 views, 0 comments
- CAPS/BCIL Comments: Gard… 8 years ago, 957 views, 0 comments


text:
The family
The family is a early torture device invented by Pope Sixtus II sometime in the late 3rd century. Victims can take this punishment alone, or, more commonly, they are joined by people of a similar age and genetic make-up referred to commonly as 'siblings'.
Victims are often asked to perform seemingly pointless tasks, their freedom is limited and discipline is strictly limited. Nothing more is known of the inner workings of 'families', casualty figures are high and many are too badly scarred emotionally to ever talk of their experiences. It is unfortunately one of those tragedies of life that cannot be known without experiencing it, and. alas, by then, it is too late.
It is notoriously diffcult to escape from the family due to the reliance of it's victims on their captors, more commonly known as 'parents' for food, shelter and im some rare cases money. Ther have also being several reports of Stockholme syndrome.
Due to the humanitarian efforts of many charities, the famous 'just say no organisation' among them, victims are now granted freedom after 18 years of servitude (previously, prisoners, especially females, would be retained until they could be sold into a form of slavery more commonly known as marriage). It is however still relatively common for souls to be retained for many years after the required length of service, binding many victims to their captors.
This bind can sometimes be lessened by marriage when the transfer of the soul takes place, this often brings these 'parents' into conflict with their former victims new masters.
Escape from this system is difficult but there are two routes available for those considering it.
Route 1- Runaways. Due to the foolish lack of security surrounding these indivual prisons, physical escape is relatively easy. However those that attempt this route often end up desolate and thus most are advised against this course of action.
Route 2- Orphans. An unfortunate situation, the victim is left without support although free. They are often envied both because of this freedom and their inherited wealth, however, one must bear in mind that due to the governments deluded notion that humans under the age of 18 are incapable of looking after themselves, orphans are forced to cohabit with hated family members or stay in a orphanage. Therefore it is not recommended to kill ones captors to achieve this status.
Victims of the system[edit]
There a many tragic cases across the world of victims, so far gone, and so utterly reliant on the system that they will do anything to protect it. They are unsalvageable, they reject all social contact in favour of their masters company, usually the female of the species. These specimens are known by normal society as 'Mamma's boys' and other derogotary terms. There is however one small silver lining to this cloud, due to it's underdeveloped social skills and hideous appearance this sub species is unable to attract a mate and thus cannot continue this atrocity in the way described below.
As a result of brainwashing many survivors wrongly believe the family to be a route to happiness and seek to continue it, thus handing down this system of control. It is worth remembering that some present captors are former victims and really cannot be held responsible for their actions. The vast majority of these 'parents' however are agents working for the government, and, contrary to popular belief were not born but are results of a disastrous course of genetic research conducted sometime in the mid to late 20th


text:
Starring: Jared Martin, Carl Franklin, Ike Eisenmann, Katie Saylor and Roddy McDowallA boat carrying a group of university scientists exploring the area of the Bermuda Triangle ran aground on an uncharted land mass, which turned out to be the source of a strange "time and space warp" in which past, present and future were all intermingled. One of the scientists, Dr. Fred Walters, was drawn into the warp, along with young Scott, where they met three people from various eras, each of whom was trying to find the way back to his or here own time. The adventures of these wanderers in time and space, the bizarre creatures they encountered and the conflicts between them were all interwoven in the series.
Notable guest stars include: Joan Collins, John Saxon, Gerald McRaney and Cheryl Ladd.
Overall Set Quality (scale of 1-10): 8
PAYMENT INFOPayPal is the preferred option for payment via major credit card (MC/Visa/American Express/Discover), electronic check or transfer from PayPal account. Money orders/cashiers checks are also accepted, but no personal checks. In all cases, payment must be received within 7 days of purchase.
Items may be returned and exchanged for the same item only. Please contact us with questions prior to purchase. Thanks.


text:
PowerVM Virtual Ethernet Speed is often confused with VIOS, SEA IVE/HEA speed
nagger 100000MRSJ Comments (14) Visits (72373)
Update in 2016:
Please note this blog is from 2011 during the initial POWER7 days and technology has moved on with faster CPUs and memory in addition there has been software improvements. I am amazed how many good computer people read this and assume this blog is true to all time!
Virtual Ethernet is faster now but there is also a warning here. Here is an analogy.
Multiple Gb/s is possible over virtual Ethernet (especially on POWER8 or later) but you have to work at it. That means network tuning and may be application changes. Small packets is a killer just due to the number of packets you need and the "transactional costs" of dealing with higher numbers. You also need much larger buffering at source and target or you run out of room and have to suspend transmission. There is also problems that are not network related - can you create at the sender the data this fast and process it all at the receiving end. This is not just a virtual Ethernet issue the same is true for physical networks with hardware assist in adapters and switches. Finally, take a look at SR-IOV in POWER8 which has hardware but can still allow Live Partition Mobility.
I have had a couple of Power systems administrators make assumptions about the virtual Ethernet speed improvements when they install a 10 Gb IVE/HEA in a VIOS which are simply not true. I guess that if three teams have made this mistake then others are about too. So I intend here to put the record straight.
The expectation is that (deliberately fully spelt out long-hand to make it very clear):
Sorry guys but this is not true!
Below are my comments:
Referring to the below diagram:
The bottom line is the virtual Ethernet speed is not effected by VIOS physical adapter - either PCIe or IVE/HEA.
Well I hope this clears up this erroneous assumption and you have better expectations of the effects of a VIOS network adapter upgrade, thanks, Nigel Griffiths.


text:
An intriguing aspect of birdsong is the occurrence of imitation (sometimes called mimicry) of song elements of other species. There are many well known examples such as Marsh Warbler in Europe and Lawrence's Thrush in the Neotropics. In many other species the phenomenon is not as well known. Ulf Elman has documented some really cool examples in Red-backed Shrike. Do read his comments on this one, and comment!
What is xeno-canto?
xeno-canto is a website dedicated to sharing bird sounds from all over the world. Whether you are a research scientist, a birder, or simply curious about a sound that you heard out your kitchen window, we invite you to listen, download, and explore the bird sound recordings in the collection.
But xeno-canto is more than just a collection of recordings. It is also a collaborative project. We invite you to share your own bird recordings, help identify mystery recordings, or share your expertise in the forums. Welcome!
Latest News
Two new articles have appeared recently on XC. James Bradley has written a piece comparing vocalizations from two Cossypha species from Africa, White-browed and Rüppell's Robin-Chat. Shaun Peters has given an overview of the 182 species that have never been recorded by anyone. Time to go out and explore!
If this feature is new to you: anyone can write such articles, either for private use (checklists of confusing species, lists for a specific area frequently visited) or public ones to share with others.
I've tried finding out how to make an Article for private notes, but found no apparent way of doing that.
All I see is the Draft/Published alternatives, is that the way forward?
Yes a draft is private, if it is finished you can make it public (or not). Maybe we could indeed improve the wording...
Ok, that works fine!
I have updated my article on the unrecorded species in response to comments posted (and will continue to do so as I learn of other species being recorded) - now 179 species remain unrecorded.
5 replies :: Your reply
... and while we are still sorting through the Zambia set, Peter Boesman is back with a set of 640 recordings from Tanzania. New species, subspecies, call types, you name it. Thanks for sharing Peter!
all in all a very good Africa week, with more additions by Bram Piot, Tony Archer, Frank Lambert, Andres Angulo, Tim Cockroft, Lynette Rudman, Aladdin, and others.
1 replies :: Your reply
With a set from northwestern Zambia Peter Boesman reaches 30.000 recordings. Crazy. Keep going, Peter!
The set contains no less than 9 new species for XC: Dusky Lark, Black-collared Bulbul, Sooty Flycatcher, Grimwood's Longclaw, Black-and-rufous Swallow, Grey Waxbill, Bannerman's Sunbird, Dambo Cisticola, Margaret's Batis. Excellent.
And with quite a few recordings of most of those species as well. Superb.
2 replies :: Your reply
Some really rare Humingbird recordings added today: Tepui Goldenthroat from Venezuela by David Ascanio, new for XC, and Bronze-tailed Thornbill from Colombia by Simon Mills. Thanks for sharing, guys!
Latest Additions
- XC512167: Willow Warbler by david m from United Kingdom
- XC512166: Willow Warbler by david m from United Kingdom
- XC512165: Great Tit by david m from United Kingdom
- XC512164: Common Pheasant by david m from United Kingdom
- XC512163: Common Pheasant by david m from United Kingdom
- XC512162: Red-naped Trogon by Jani Sleutel from Malaysia
- XC512161: Blue-headed Pitta by Jani Sleutel from Malaysia
- XC512160: European Crested Tit by Sean Ronayne from Spain
- XC512159: Northern Raven by Sean Ronayne from Spain
- XC512158: Northern Raven by Sean Ronayne from Spain
- More...
Great work!
Latest Mysteries
- XC512115 by Nelson Conceição from Portugal
- XC512029 by Karim Haddad from Algeria
- XC512027 by Karim Haddad from Algeria
- XC512026 by Karim Haddad from Algeria
- XC511930 by Birding The Strait from Spain
- XC511904 by Juha Saari from Finland
- XC511899 by Ireneusz Oleksik from Poland
- XC511847 by Jacob Socolar from Colombia
- XC511846 by Tim Healy from Australia
- XC511845 by Beatrix Saadi-Varchmin from Malaysia
- More...
Latest Articles
- Bird Species not yet sound-recorded by Shaun Peters
- On the vocalizations of Cossypha heuglini and Cossypha semirufa by James Bradley
- Updates to Xeno-canto.org in 2019 by Willem-Pier Vellinga
- birds in stormy weather by johannes buhl
- IOC8.2 => IOC9.1 update 14 august 2019 by Willem-Pier Vellinga
- More...


text:
Roster Roulette
Souvenir program sales should be good for the next several home games at McCoy Stadium because it could be hard to tell who is in uniform without a roster.
Let's start with who's gone.
I was able to wish Jeff Bailey good luck as he packed his bags following Monday's 2-0 win over Lehigh Valley. The 2008 International League MVP is headed to Boston to replace Rocco Baldelli who came out of the Red Sox win over Baltimore with a strained hamstring and is headed to the D.L.
Pawtucket won't have Bailey tomorrow but will have Julio Lugo and Jonathan Van Every, who join the team on rehab assignments from Boston. Both of them figure to be in the starting lineup at 6:15 vs. Rochester.
Lugo had knee surgery on March 17th and figures to play in several games for Pawtucket before joining the Red Sox.
Van Every suffered an ankle injury in spring training, and it will be interesting to see if his stint with the PawSox is brief. If he proves he's healthy and swings the bat well, the Red Sox could call him up and send Chris Carter down since they both bat left-handed and Van Every is better defensively.
It also seems likely that Daisuke Matsuzaka and Mark Kotsay will be wearing Pawtucket uniforms relatively soon. Dice-K has been on the D.L. for a week and will play catch on Tuesday at Fenway while continuing to build strength in his shoulder. Last year under similar circumstances, Matsuzaka was out for about two-and-a-half weeks before making a rehab start for the PawSox.
Kotsay, who is recovering from a back injury, has been playing in games at extended spring training so it's only a matter of time before he begins a rehab stint.
Terry Francona told reporters today that Jed Lowrie will have surgery on his wrist, but it will not be a season-ending proceedure. In fact, the Sox hope Jed will be back by the All-Star break which means we'll probably see Lowrie with Pawtucket on a rehab assignment in several weeks.
Did I forget anybody?
Kudos to Michael Bowden who earned his first Triple-A win on Monday as he teamed up with Fernando Cabrera and Daniel Bard on a 3-hit shutout in the win over Lehigh Valley.
That's a league-high 4 shutouts for the Pawtucket pitching staff in the first 12 games of the season.
Bowden entered the game with an stingy 1.04 ERA in two starts, but this was easily his most impressive performance of the season. His fastball appeared to have a little extra pop and he had command of all of his pitches (92 pitches, 61 strikes). Bowden struck out 7 in 5.1 IP to reduce his ERA to 0.64.
Bard pitched a hitless 9th inning with a walk and two strikeouts. International League batters are 1-for-24 against him for a .042 batting average.
Bard, Jeff Natale, and manager Ron Johnson will be my guests tomorrow as we tape our first episode of "Talkin' PawSox" this year. The show airs on Cox Sports and we do 10 episodes each summer. You can check out previous episodes on PawSox.com. Just go to the top of the homepage where is says "Multimedia" and scroll down to "Watchin' Talkin' PawSox."
On Monday, I came up with a Patriots Day edition of "Stump Steve" as we played "2 Out of 3 Ain't Bad."
In this case, the correct answers to three baseball questions shared the last name of a famous patriot of the American Revolution.
1. I was an American League All-Star last year in just my second year in the big leagues and broke a record that had previously been held by Bobby Abreu.
2. I pitched in the big leagues from 1995 to 2005 for the Cubs, Dodgers, Phillies, Blue Jays and Red Sox and I have a World Series ring.
3. I am a current major league pitcher now in my third season with the St. Louis Cardinals. In fact, last year due to injuries to Jason Isringhausen, I became their closer and finished with 17 saves.
The answers are:
1. Josh Hamilton (Alexander Hamilton). Hamilton broke Abreu's record for most home runs in one round of the home run derby competition (28 to 24).
2. Terry Adams (John Adams), who earned a ring with the Red Sox in 2004.
3. Ryan Franklin (Ben Franklin) was the Cardinals closer last year.
Steve was completely stumped this time, but it still 7-3 this season.
Speaking of Patriots Day, I highly recommend this story by Gordon Edes about the Red Sox tradition of playing at 11:00am on that holiday.
Pawtucket opens a 2-game series against Rochester on Tuesday night at 6:15. Kris Johnson takes the mound for the PawSox, and the team has won both of the games he has started this year by 1-0 final scores.
Pregame coverage starts at 6:00 on the PawSox radio network and PawSox.com.


text:
Packaged Implementations
Access experienced implementation teams and industry-specific configuration options
Deltek Global Consulting has more experience with the Deltek product portfolio than any other organization. When choosing a packaged implementation solution, Deltek Global Consulting provides the most knowledgeable and experienced implementation team available, coupled with configuration options that align with your industry.
A Partnership from day 1
We partner with you to set expectations from the start of your packaged solution implementation. Our depth of experience, industry knowledge, and commitment to client success allows us to begin to address potential challenges and risks at the beginning of our projects, in order to minimize surprises and meet your expectations.
Deltek Global Consulting offers the deepest relationship with and access to the Deltek product teams, across all products, and is your conduit to the product team and the broader Deltek eco-system.
packaged implementation offerings
Talent Management
Our Talent Management packaged implementations keep your business processes top of mind while helping you improve the quality of new hires, increase employee engagement & retention, maintain compliance, streamline the onboarding process and more. Package benefits include:
- Experienced recruiting/HR industry experts
- Best practice guidance based on industry knowledge as well as solutions expertise
- Hands-on implementation approach with a 'to-be' focus, based on your definition of success
- Continued period of support during post go-live period
- Single Module or multiple module options available
- Typical Go Live timeline of 10 weeks per module
The TrafficLIVE Packaged Implementation offering is designed for small to medium TrafficLIVE customers implement the core system functionality built specifically for the agency market. The package focuses on business process mapping, shared system configuration, user acceptance testing and end user training. Package benefits include:
- Implementation planning specifically designed for small to medium agencies
- Rapid collection of business processes
- Documentation of your business process workflow
- Implementation of TrafficLIVE best practices
- User Acceptance Testing to deliver best solution


text:
If you are a subscriber to the JCSM (including members of the AASM), please login to access the journal.
Click here to Subscribe:
$75/volume year for individuals or $140/volume year for institutions to access all current articles and archives published in JCSM.
Click Here to DOWNLOAD the article*:
$20 to access a PDF version of a specific article from the current issue of JCSM.
*Purchase of an electronic download of JCSM provides permission to access and print the issue/article for personal scholarly, research and educational use. Please note: access to the article is from the computer on which the article is purchased ONLY. Purchase of the article does not permit distribution, electronic or otherwise, of the article without the written permission of the AASM. Further, purchase does not permit the posting of article text on an online forum or website.
Subscribers can download and print full articles from current and past issues of the JCSM
Login to JCSM
Join the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and receive a subscription to JCSM with your membership
This case-control study investigated whether variations within the APOE-ε gene were associated with having a convex facial profile (skeletal Class II) compared to exhibiting a straight or concave facial profile (Class I or Class III) among patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Associations between the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and body mass index (BMI) scores for these OSA patients were also examined in the context of facial profile.
OSA patients with an AHI ≥ 15 were recruited from a sleep clinic and classified by facial and dental occlusal relationships based on a profile facial analysis, lateral photographs, and dental examination. Saliva was collected as a source of DNA. The APOE-ε1-4 allele-defining single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs429358 and rs7412 were genotyped. A χ2 analysis was used to assess Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and for association analysis (significance at p < 0.05). ANOVA and Fisher exact test were also used.
Seventy-six Caucasian OSA patients participated in the study—25 Class II cases and 51 non-Class II cases. There was no association of the APOE-ε4 allele with facial profile among these OSA patients. Class II OSA patients had significantly lower BMIs (30.7 ± 5.78) than Class I (37.3 ± 6.14) or Class III (37.8 ± 6.17) patients (p < 0.001), although there was no statistical difference in AHI for Class II patients compared with other groups.
OSA patients with Class II convex profile were more likely to have a lower BMI than those in other skeletal groups. In fact 20% of them were not obese, suggesting that a Class II convex profile may influence or be associated with OSA development independent of BMI.
Roedig JJ; Phillips BA; Morford LA; Van Sickels JE; Falcao-Alencar G; Fardo DW; Hartsfield JK; Ding X; Kluemper GT. Comparison of BMI, AHI, and apolipoprotein E ε4 (APOE-ε4) alleles among sleep apnea patients with different skeletal classifications. J Clin Sleep Med 2014;10(4):397-402.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common but underdiagnosed disorder characterized by repetitive episodes of complete or partial upper airway obstruction leading to cessation (apnea) or intermittent reduction (hypopnea) of airflow.1 These episodes usually last a minimum of 10 seconds and result in loud snoring, potential decreases in oxygen saturation, and chronic daytime sleepiness. Potentially fatal consequences of this disorder include hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, nocturnal cardiac dysrhythmias, myocardial infarction, and ischemic stroke.2 In addition to adverse cardiovascular outcomes, people with OSA are have an increased risk of motor vehicle crashes.2
The gold standard for diagnosing OSA is a history and physical examination and an overnight sleep study (polysomnography).2 Although obesity is the phenotype most commonly associated with OSA, variations in craniofacial structure are also associated with the condition.3–6 When OSA is caused or influenced by a variation in anatomy, the obstruction may originate from either soft tissues (including musculature) or from skeletal components.2 One of the most common craniofacial risk factors is a retrognathic mandible (retruded relative to the maxilla in the sagittal plane).4 The maxilla and mandible may both be retruded relative to the cranial base in the sagittal plane, resulting in bi-maxillary retrusion. The retrognathic mandible and/or bi-maxillary retrusion contribute to a craniofacial relationship referred to as skeletal class II by the dental/orthodontic community.
Current Knowledge/Study Rationale: Although BMI is strongly correlated with OSA, there are individuals with other risk factors. This study was done to see if APOE-ε gene variants and/or facial profile were associated with differences in AHI or BMI in OSA patients.
Study Impact: A convex facial profile is associated with OSA even in non-obese patients, indicating that facial profile could be an important tool in risk assessment. Other non-obesity OSA factors such genetic variation need to be further explored.
The nomenclature of a Class II skeletal relationship has evolved from the original classification of malocclusions developed by Dr. Edward Angle in the 1890s.7 The original dental classifications of Class I, II, and III specifically described the variable sagittal relationship between the permanent maxillary and mandibular first molars bilaterally. Dr. Angle, however, did not take into account the sagittal relationship of the maxilla and mandible themselves or the facial profile. Subsequently it became clear that variation in the sagittal relationship between teeth was usually a reflection of the corresponding sagittal relationship between the maxilla and mandible. The classification system that was originally designed to describe occlusal relationships was "borrowed" to describe similar patterns of balance and imbalance between the jaws, often with placing the descriptor "skeletal" in front of the terms Class I, Class II, or Class III.
When the jaws are in harmony in the sagittal plane, thereby providing facial and occlusal balance, this is considered or described to be skeletal Class I. When the mandible is positioned posteriorly in its relationship to the maxilla in the sagittal plane, it is described as a skeletal Class II relationship. This imbalance can be a result of a protruded maxilla, a retruded mandible or a combination of both. The majority of Class II relationships are due to a retruded and/or small mandible, where the maxilla is in a normal position relative to the cranial base. However, the maxilla may be retruded as well.8 Finally, when the mandible is positioned too far forward in its relationship with the maxilla, whether due to maxillary deficiency or mandibular protrusion (or both), it is referred to as a skeletal Class III relationship. The prevalence of each skeletal class depends upon the population of interest, but is roughly 60% Class I, 35% Class II, and 5% Class III for growing individuals of western European descent.7
While environmental factors may contribute to the development of OSA, evidence suggests that it may have a familial component. OSA family members often share similar jaw relationships and/or body mass indices (BMIs).3,9 The underlying causes of OSA are clearly variable, with data from clinical and epidemiologic studies indicating that genetic factors influence the expression of OSA.9 The apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene, specifically allele ε4, has been associated with OSA in two previous cohort studies involving a Caucasian population.10,11 However, other studies did not replicate these findings.12,13 Thus one aim of this case-control study was to investigate whether genetic variations of the APOE gene, especially the presence of the APOE-ε4 allele, are associated with OSA in Class II patients compared to non-Class II (i.e., Class I or Class III) OSA patients. This study also investigated whether the severity of sleep apnea (as assessed by AHI) and/or the average body mass index (BMI) scores associated with OSA in Class II patients were significantly different when compared to the scores of non-Class II OSA patients.
Ethics approval for this study, in the form of a Full Medical Review, was provided by the University of Kentucky Internal Review Board (IRB Protocol #12-0557-F6A). All study participants completed the informed consent/assent process and authorized the release of their health information. Patients 13 years of age and older were recruited from the University of Kentucky Good Samaritan Hospital Sleep Center during routine follow-up of OSA.
All participants underwent a profile facial analysis, the taking and review of lateral photographs, and dental examination to determine skeletal malocclusion. Although lateral cephalometric radiographs are used regularly to analyze the skeletal classification of orthodontic patients, they are not a routine part of an OSA patient evaluation, and hence were not available for any of the subjects. In this study, skeletal malocclusion was determined by dental exam, facial profile analysis, and lateral photograph based on specific criteria (Table 1). Greater emphasis was placed on the facial analysis to determine skeletal malocclusion than dental exam data, largely due to the number of missing teeth observed in some patients. Tooth loss may alter dental occlusion classification, but not facial classification. Patients who had complete dentures, a craniofacial syndrome and/or central sleep apnea syndrome (CSAS) were excluded from the study.
Criteria for the determination of skeletal classification from a subject's photographs and dental examination
(more ...)
All lateral photographs were oriented and standardized using Dolphin Imaging software (version 10.5; Dolphin Imaging & Management Solutions, Chatsworth, CA). The head of each participant was oriented with the soft tissue correlate of Frankfort Horizontal (Ala-Tragus) parallel to the floor. Three measurements were calculated on each participant: facial divergence (distance between soft tissue pogonion and the line perpendicular to ala-tragus registered from soft tissue glabella), facial convexity (angle formed by intersection of the soft tissue glabella-subnasale line and subnasale-soft tissue pogonion line), and position of the maxilla (distance between subnasale and the line perpendicular to ala-tragus registered at soft tissue glabella). These linear and angular measurements were measured and compared with published soft-tissue norms.14 Since greater emphasis was placed on facial analysis, these measurements were used to reinforce the clinical profile facial analysis of each participant.
Following the completion of this evaluation, 2 dental practitioners (the one who categorized the subjects in this report [JR], and one additional practitioner) independently assessed 10 additional OSA patients to determine the accuracy of the methodology described in Table 1 for determining the skeletal classification. There was 100% agreement on the skeletal classification among the examiners using this system of classification.
For purposes of this study, OSA was defined by an apnea plus hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 15/h; patients with ≥ 5 central apneas/h were excluded from participation. The AHI for each subject was determined during an overnight, in-laboratory diagnostic sleep study in the accredited University of Kentucky Good Samaritan Hospital Center. The AHI was calculated using standard criteria.15
BMI was calculated in the clinic using the following equation: BMI = Weight (lb) / (Height (in) × Height (in)) × 703, where 703 is a conversion factor related to measurements made in pounds and inches versus kilograms and meters. Standard weight status categories associated with BMI ranges for adults were used.16
Saliva (2-4 mL) was collected and genomic DNA isolated from all study participants using the Oragene-DNA Saliva Collection Kits (DNA Genotek Inc., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada). Purified DNA was suspended in 10 mM Tris-HCl, 1 mM EDTA pH 8.0 (Fisher Scientific, Fair Lawn, NJ), and DNA concentrations were measured on the NanoDrop-1000 spectrophotometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Wilmington, DE). The SNPs rs429358 and rs7412 were selected based upon their reported association with OSAS. SNP analysis of the purified genomic DNA was performed utilizing Taqman-based SNP Genotyping Assay Kits and reagents (Life Technologies/Applied Biosystems, Carlsbad, CA) in the Roche LightCycler 480 Instrument (Roche Applied Science, Indianapolis, IN).
ANOVA was used to compare BMI and AHI among the skeletal classifications and by genotype. A χ2 analysis was used to access Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) (significance at p < 0.05), and a Fisher exact test was applied to analyze the association between APOE-ε4 and skeletal classification of OSAS patients (significance at p < 0.05). All analyses were conducted using R software (version: 2.15.3) or the Excel 2010 (Microsoft Corporation) software program.
Seventy-six Caucasian patients with OSA were recruited to this study—52 males and 24 females for a male-female ratio of 2:1. Within this cohort, there were 37 skeletal Class I subjects (CL I), 25 skeletal Class II subjects (CL II), and 14 skeletal Class III subjects (CL III). The average age, BMI, and AHI among the OSA subjects by facial classification were determined (Figure 1). There was no statistical difference in age among the different skeletal classes. The AHI was lowest for skeletal Class II patients (33.6 ± 11.9), followed by skeletal Class III (39.5 ± 17.2), and was highest for skeletal Class I (46.0 ± 29.1); but the 3 groups were not statistically different (p = 0.2). However, differences in BMI were statistically significant among the skeletal classes examined (p < 0.001). Overall, the skeletal Class II OSA patients had a lower BMI than Class I and Class III patients, although on average they were still overweight (Table 2).
Average age, BMI and AHI grouped by facial category in OSA patients.
Descriptive statistics for OSA patients as a function of skeletal classification and sex
One-fifth of all skeletal Class II OSA subjects (2 men and 4 women) had normal BMIs ranging from 20.7 to 24.5. There were no OSA subjects with Class I or III skeletal classifications with normal BMIs. Female patients with Class II had the lowest average BMI measurements (28.2 ± 5.6 kg/m2), while female OSA subjects with Class III had the highest average BMI (42.5 ± 7.6 kg/m2). While there were no statistically significant differences observed with AHI (p = 0.6) among the skeletal classes, it is noteworthy that the cohort of skeletal Class I and III subjects contained 7 subjects (27%) and 3 subjects (21.4%) with AHIs over 50, respectively. By comparison, there were no AHI scores over 50 in the Class II population with OSA.
Genotyping frequencies for rs429358 and rs7412 maintained HWE in the study population (Table 3A and 3B). Likewise, there were no associations with the genotypes at either SNP with AHI or BMI (data not shown). The haplotype created by the combined nucleotides found at rs429358 and rs7412 on the same chromosome can be imputed and the imputed haplotype is commonly used to determine an individual's APOE allele composition (Table 4A).17 The APOE allele composition for all OSAS subjects by skeletal class was determined (Table 4B). Within this cohort, the ε3/ε3 allele occurred with the highest frequency in all skeletal classifications, followed by the ε3/ε4 allele.
Genotypic distribution of SNP rs2429358 among patients with OSA by skeletal classification
Genotypic distribution of SNP rs7412 among patients with OSA by skeletal classification
Haplotypes of APOE at rs429358 + rs7412 have previously been shown to be predictive of an individual's APOE allele complement.17
Number of OSA patients by APOE allele combination grouped by skeletal classification
When a patient is heterozygous at both SNPs (CT and CT), however, the actual subject's haplotype cannot be imputed with 100% certainty. Only one patient in our subject population was heterozygous for both SNPs, and that patient was excluded for the statistical analysis involving APOE alleles. There was no statistical difference (p = 0.7) in the number of individuals with no APOE-ε4 alleles compared to individuals with one or two APOE-ε4 alleles, when compared by skeletal classification (Table 4C). When comparing the average BMI and AHI among individuals with one or more APOE-ε4 alleles vs. individuals with no APOE-ε4 alleles, there was no statistical difference in BMI (p = 0.8) or AHI (p = 0.9), respectively (Table 5).
Number of OSA patients with no APOE ε4 alleles compared to OSA patients with one or more APOE-ε4 alleles grouped by skeletal classification
Average BMI and AHI ± 1 SD grouped by lack of APOE-ε4 alleles, or the presence of at least one APOE-ε4 allele.
The most notable finding of this study was that OSA patients with skeletal Class II (convex facial profile), had a significantly lower BMIs than the non-Class II OSA patients. This finding suggests that the skeletal Class II phenotype may be associated with or directly influence OSA development irrespective of an individual's BMI. Unlike the apparent synergistic association between changes in the PHOX2B gene nucleotide sequence and Class III malocclusion in some but not all children and OSA,18 we found no evidence to support a synergistic association between APOE-ε4 allele and Class II (or Class I or Class III) in our adult OSAS subjects
The focus of this study was to look at factors other than BMI that could be associated with OSA, since there are individuals affected with OSA who are not obese. The factors we choose to investigate were a skeletal Class II facial profile relationship, and the presence of an APOE-ε4 allele, which has been in some studies associated with OSA. We investigated whether having a Class II facial profile and an APOE-ε4 allele either by themselves, or in combination, were associated with a lower BMI in OSA patients.
Multiple studies examining OSA patients have identified several disorder-associated craniofacial features, including a retrognathic (Class II facial pattern) mandible (Table 6).1,4,19,20 Thirty-three percent of our sample was classified as facial Class II. This is higher than the 13% reported in the adult population.7 Interestingly, six of the OSA patients in this study had a normal BMI, and all of them were facial Class II. Conversely, 70 patients (92%) of our sample were classified as either overweight or obese. It is not surprising then that although all three facial classes were represented in the obese patients, the Class II patients had a significantly lower average BMI than did the skeletal Class I and III patients.
Summary of common craniofacial features observed in OSA patients.
Even though there was no statistically significant difference in AHI among the facial types, the Class II group had the lowest average AHI value while the average values for the Class I and Class III groups were approximately the same. This suggests that although all of the subjects were diagnosed with OSA, the Class II group tended to have a less severe manifestation of it, although there was a great deal of variation. The presence of a Class II facial type then appears to be associated with OSA, even in the absence of being overweight or obese.
Since not all skeletal Class II facial subjects develop OSA, and there are some Class II subjects who are not overweight or obese who develop OSA, there appear to be factors other than BMI that influence the development of the condition. This is supported by OSA being a disorder of complex etiology with multiple risk factors that interact to determine the phenotype. In addition to environmental risk factors, there is a strong genetic (or at least familial, which can also include familial environmental cofactors) basis for OSA, likely due to the summation of small to moderate effects from a large number of genetic loci.21,22 It has been estimated that 35% to 40% of the variance in AHI seen in OSA patients can be attributed to genetic factors.22
Some genetic studies have found an association between the apolipoprotein E-ε4 allele and OSA. In contrast, however, several other studies have found no association. Among the middle-aged adult participants in the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study (WSCS), the presence of an APOE-ε4 allele was associated with a two-fold increase in odds of OSA.11 In the Sleep Heart Health study APOE-ε4 allele was associated with increased risk of OSA, particularly in individuals under age 65.10 However, the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study and the Finnish study on obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea patients found no association with OSA and APOE-ε4.12,23 A meta-analysis and meta-regression found that the hypothesis that the APOE-ε4 can be causally associated with obstructive sleep apnea could not be supported in the published literature.24 However, none of these OSA studies investigated the APOE-ε4 allele with the presence of a skeletal Class II facial type, particularly in individuals with a normal BMI. Our study found no association between APOE-ε4 allele and OSA patients' BMI, AHI, or skeletal classification. However, it should be noted that in regard to genetic research, our study is under-powered due to a small sample size if the effect of the APOE-ε4 allele is small.
This was not an industry supported study. This project was funded in part by the National Institutes of Health through the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry Center for Biomedical Research Excellence (P20RR020145), and the E. Preston Hicks Endowed Chair. The authors have indicated no financial conflicts of interest.
The authors thank the staff at the University of Kentucky Good Samaritan Sleep Center for their help in patient recruitment and data collection in this study.
Albajalan OB, Samsudin AR, Hassan R, authors. Craniofacial morphology of Malay patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. Eur J Orthod. 2011;33:509–14. [PubMed]
Chokroverty S, author. Overview of sleep & sleep disorders. Indian J Med Res. 2010;131:126–40. [PubMed]
Young T, Peppard PE, Gottlieb DJ, authors. Epidemiology of obstructive sleep apnea: a population health perspective. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002;165:1217–39. [PubMed]
Chi L, Comyn FL, Mitra N, et al., authors. Identification of craniofacial risk factors for obstructive sleep apnoea using three-dimensional MRI. Eur Respir J. 2011;38:348–58. [PubMed]
Miyao E, Noda A, Miyao M, Yasuma F, Inafuku S, authors. The role of malocclusion in non-obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Intern Med. 2008;47:1573–8. [PubMed]
Susarla SM, Abramson ZR, Dodson TB, Kaban LB, authors. Cephalometric measurement of upper airway length correlates with the presence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2010;68:2846–55. [PubMed]
Proffit WR, Fields HW, Sarver DM, authors. Contemporary Orthodontics. St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier, 2007.
McNamara JA Jr, author. Components of class II malocclusion in children 8-10 years of age. Angle Orthod. 1981;51:177–202. [PubMed]
Kryger MH, Roth T, Dement WC, editors. Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders/Elsevier, 2011.
Gottlieb DJ, DeStefano AL, Foley DJ, et al., authors. APOE epsilon4 is associated with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea: the Sleep Heart Health Study. Neurology. 2004;63:664–8. [PubMed]
Kadotani H, Kadotani T, Young T, et al., authors. Association between apolipoprotein E epsilon4 and sleep-disordered breathing in adults. JAMA. 2001;285:2888–90. [PubMed]
Saarelainen S, Lehtimaki T, Kallonen E, Laasonen K, Poussa T, Nieminen MM, authors. No relation between apolipoprotein E alleles and obstructive sleep apnea. Clin Genet. 1998;53:147–8. [PubMed]
Foley DJ, Masaki K, White L, Redline S, authors. Relationship between apolipoprotein E epsilon4 and sleep-disordered breathing at different ages. JAMA. 2001;286:1447–8. [PubMed]
Burstone CJ, Marcotte MR, authors. Problem Solving in Orthodontics: Goal-Oriented Treatment Strategies. Chicago: Quintessence Pub. Co., 2000.
Iber C, Ancoli-Israel S, Chesson A, Quan SF, authors; for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Associated Events: Rules, Terminology, and Technical Specifications. Westchester, IL: American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2007.
World Health Organization. 10 Facts on Obesity. Fact file. Accessed 2013. http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/obesity/facts/en/.
Williams-Gray CH, Goris A, Saiki M, et al., authors. Apolipoprotein E genotype as a risk factor for susceptibility to and dementia in Parkinson's disease. J Neurol. 2009;256:493–98. [PubMed]
Lavezzi AM, Casale V, Oneda R, Gioventu S, Matturri L, Farronato G, authors. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children with Class III malocclusion: involvement of the PHOX2B gene. Sleep Breath. 2013;17:1275–80. [PubMed]
Ono T, Lowe AA, Ferguson KA, Pae EK, Fleetham JA, authors. The effect of the tongue retaining device on awake genioglossus muscle activity in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 1996;110:28–35. [PubMed]
Johns FR, Strollo PJ Jr.; Buckley M, Constantino J, authors. The influence of craniofacial structure on obstructive sleep apnea in young adults. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1998;56:596–602; discussion 02-3. [PubMed]
Patel SR, author. Shared genetic risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea and obesity. J Appl Physiol. 2005;99:1600–06. [PubMed]
Kaparianos A, Sampsonas F, Karkoulias K, Spiropoulos K, authors. Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and genes. Neth J Med. 2006;64:280–9. [PubMed]
Palmer LJ, Buxbaum SG, Larkin E, et al., authors. A whole-genome scan for obstructive sleep apnea and obesity. Am J Hum Genet. 2003;72:340–50. [PubMed Central][PubMed]
Thakre TP, Mamtani MR, Kulkarni H, authors. Lack of association of the APOE epsilon 4 allele with the risk of obstructive sleep apnea: meta-analysis and meta-regression. Sleep. 2009;32:1507–11. [PubMed Central][PubMed]