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

THE HOI?SE-SHOIV.

The takings at the Agricultural Hall for 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 uncotnplitneu-
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 head, 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
as good a thing as could be done to bring
over the hind 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. In
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. Thu 3
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.
He was never at fault; he never swerved for 3
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
his black head a bit of a shake, as he looked at th
high furze he had just cleared, as much as to say,
" Come, now ; I think that will do for the present.
I shan't try that game any more." There were a
few manly riders who rode like men well practised
iu 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.
It is a pity to observe that her tail and mane have
been trimmed out of all Arab character; but there
are far worse cases of docking and mutilating in the
show—cases that Sir Edwin Landseer, had he bee°
one of the judges, would have severely censured. An
Arab horse's tail should droop and taper, like A
silken 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
are 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 prize;
by jumpers and trotters will take place, several
noted horses having been kept back for this special
show.
Exhibitors in the galleries and arcade must
almost wish the scenes in the arena were not sc)
attractive as they are. But there is yet ahead)" 3
steady attendance in the carriage departraee,
where several new and improved forms are shown'
Among them are various light and serviceable
vehicles, built by Windover, of American hickory
and steel ; so that strength is insured with a trillal;
mum of weight. Mr. Wiudover exhibits a ne._
wheel, exceedingly simple and free from liability to
get out of repair. His carriages are of elegant
shape, and the entire substitution of steel for iron
enables him to reduce the size and consequent
weight of springs and other metal work.

When Walter Scott visited Paris in 1815, tly°
or three months after the battle of Waterloo, nile
of the things which struck him most was the Ilea
de la Paix, which had just changed its name fr°ll:
the Rue de l'Empereur, " a fine street, which ne;
only boasts a breadth corresponding to the inaglll-
ficence of its buildings, but is actually accounOci
dated with two gutters, one on each side, hot° r
of the kennel in the centre where the filth floats, et
stagnates, in all the other. streets of Paris." '.lco
among the proofs of extravagances of expense
which his ambition to distinguish himself hurr'i.et
him, and which the Parisians of that day though t
unnecessary, the construction of this magnigeefli.,_
street seemed to Sir Walter not the least retna'r'a
able. The Rue de la Paix will no longer be cited
as the finest street of Paris. That part of rhe
" magnificent buildings " which opened en ja
Boulevard des Capucines is at this moment e.
course of demolition, and on both sides at enc_o
A new street running in an oblique direction7trse
as to connect the new opera with the Theaed,
Francais in the Rue Richelieu, is to be °Pen
and to effect this the corresponding building3.lo.
the. intervening streets arc also in course of
to
h.tt
laid in the dust. The name of "Rue do la 1-
will disappear, and the new thoroughfare volione
called the " Avenue de Napoleon." It makes red
eci
smile to hear of the extravagant expense
tir
Rue
by the first Emperor in laying out the
Ore
..3.1-
la Paix. It was but a drop in the ocean ho
pared to what the present Prefect of raralsbiect
done during his tenure of office. The siu the
is one which has begun seriously to alai:. the
Parisians, however proud they may be 01
capital.