The Sun.
London, England, 1868-06-03 00:00:00

THE HORSE-SHOIV.

The takings at the Agricultural Hall fur the first
two days of the horse-show have been £4O more
than for the same period last year. Inasmuch as
the principal attractions have been reserved until
the closing days of the exhibition, this early run of
popularity is a most cheering sign. Yesterday the
crowd gathered thickly round the ring and watched
with interest, which occasionally turned to merri-
ment, the proceedings in that spacious arena. It
is more than questionable whether the amusement
which called forth so many bursts of laughter was
of the right sort. If, instead of a trial of prize hun-
ters at fencing, this had been a donkey-race, or
some clownish competition in which rough humour
is an essential ingredient, the shouts of mirth would
not have seemed inappropriate or uncomplimen-
tary. As it was, the riding and deriding which
went so closely together were hardly well matched.
The horsemen who lost their stirrups, their tem-
per, and now and then their seats, were bold
equestrians certainly, or they would not have ven-
tured on a public display of such remarkable in-
competence. Some of them, with a grave per-
sistency that was ludicrous to see, but is painful
to think of, rode again and again at hurdles which
there was the least likelihood of their ever getting
over, and seemed to be rather stimulated than dis-
couraged by the re-echoing peals of laughter in
their repetition of a wild rush, ending always in a
sudden stop on the near side of the fence. Others
belaboured their horses with heavy hunting crops
over the bead, on the cheek, anywhere, like mad
tailors out for a holiday. Two or three rolled on
the tan, as a matter of course. One performer
seemed never tired of doing a very funny thing,
which may be described as jumping a fence by two
instalments. First he made his horse quietly put
both forelegs over the lowest of the hurdles, and
then he proceeded gently to persuade the animal
that, having got thus far, it really might be about
►s good a thing as could be done to bring
over the hied legs too. The whole of
this solemn feat was executed in so leisurely a
manner, to the uproarious and unbounded delight
of the spectators, that the horse, before beginning
to go over the fence, had time to take refreshment,
by browsing the green top of the obstacle ; and he
generally carried away a branch in his mouth, as a
token and reward of meritorious exertion. 111
striking contrast to the bad and indifferent equita-
tion, yesterday, was the cool, brave, and skilful
riding of a little boy, who first mounted one of the
hunting cracks, and took all his jumps with an ease
and certainty, a courage and judgment, perfectly
admirable. After winning as much applause as
might have satisfied a prima donna, he guided his
big steed, as a shepherd might have guided a lamb,
out of the arena, presently to return on a mercurial
little pie-bald pony, just up to his weight. Thus
newly mounted, the child-rider took flying leaps,
every one of which was as deservedly as it was rap-
turously cheered by the spectators above and below.
lie was never at fault; he never swerved for a
moment from any intention he had once formed,
and he gave his horse no time to dispute
the matter with him. Over he must go, and over
he went, sure enough, and to the astonishment
sometimes of the animal that carried him. Once the
little dancing piebald pony turned round and gave
ais black head a bit of a shake, as he looked at th 0
ligh furze he had just cleared, as much as to say,
Come, now ; I think that will do for the present.
f shan't try that game any more." There were a
few manly riders who rode like men well practised
in the management of a horse. There were three
occupants of side-saddles who were tolerated rather
than approved, and whose attempts to lift their
horses over the obstacles in the arena were imper-
fectly successful at the best. Man or woman, there
was no rider yesterday fit to hold a stirrup for the
little boy who first bestrode the big hunter, and
then came dancing on the restless piebald pony.
The feeling of dissatisfaction with the award of
first prize to the Prince of Wales's white Arab mare
seems to have been somewhat propitiated. Rupee
was well received yesterday when she entered the
ring and was put through her paces. She is a very
beautiful Arab, with an action as easy as a rocking
chair, and a temper as gentle as—well, there is no
temper that is gentler than a horse's, after all. She
is a lady's horse, in fact, worthy to carry a princess-
ft is a pity to observe that her tail and mane have
bee❑ trimmed out of all Arab character ; but there
are far worse cases of docking and mutilating in the
show—cases that Sir Edwin Laudseer, had he been
one of the judges, would have severely censured. An
Arab horse's tail should droop and taper, like a
iilken tassel, to a point. No horse's tail should be
cropped square as a Dutch hedge trimmer would
crop a yew. Some of the park hacks and ponies
,re woefully disfigured in this manner ; while
Rupee has undergone but a trifling loss of natural
beauty. Her Royal owner is expected to visit the
hall this day. On Friday competitions for prizes
oy jumpers and trotters will take place, several
,loted horses having been kept back for this special
show.

Exhibitors in the galleries and arcade mils
tlmost wish the scenes in the arena were not e°
attractive as they are. But there is yet already 3
,teady attendance in the carriage department/
where several new and improved forms are shore.
:among them are various light and serviceable
vehicles, built by Windover, of American hickory
old steel ; so that strength is insured with a mini"
alum of weight. Mr. Wiudover exhibits a nevi
wheel, exceedingly simple and free from liability t°
.;et out of repair. His carriages are of elegant
Thape, and the entire substitution of steel for iroa
:sables him to reduce the size and consequot
weight of springs and other metal work.

When Walter Scott visited Paris in 1815, two
or three months after the battle of Waterloo, on°
of the things which struck him most was the Rue
le la Paix, which had just changed its name froth
the Rue de I'Empereur, " a fine street, which 11°6
only boasts a breadth corresponding to the inagni-
acence of its buildings, but is actually acconarOci
dated with two gutters, one on each side, instead
of the kennel in the centre where the filth floats. °tstagnates, in all the other streets of Paris." 1311,„
among the proofs of extravagances of expense low,
which his ambition to distinguish himself hurried
him, and which the Parisians of that day thought
unnecessary, the construction of this magnificei-
re
street seemed to Sir Walter not the least rend
able. The Rue de la Paix will no longer be Cl
as the finest street of Paris. That part 0f %e
magnificent buildings " which opened on "n
Boulevard des Capucines is at this moment le.
course of demolition, and on both sides at 00°__0
A new street running in an oblique directions se
as to connect the new opera with the The 3 d_
Francais in the Rue Richelieu, is to be °pencil;
Ind to effect this the corresponding building°_,
;he intervening streets are also in course of ber,,
:aid in the dust. The name of " Rue do la, pair
will b°
vial disappear, and the new thoroughfare no
sailed the " Avenue de Napoleon." It makes °red
imile to hear of the extravagant expense incur Ao
oy the first Emperor in laying out the
a Paix. It was but a drop in the ocean e%5
ee"
The oared to what the present Prefect of Par WP.
lone during his tenure of office. the
is one which has begun seriously to , ir
f
Parisians, however proud they may be °garna
capital.

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