Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1856-09-27
Gbe 1Dolpnesiau.
Love, Luck and HOrsemanship;
On, Mr. FIRST STEEPLE-CHAsE.
(By tie author of Wa Sports of the We,tl

(By the author Of Wild Sports of the West.)
1t was the first week in July, when, having taken
the honors of graduate, after five years sojourn
within the classical courts of old Alma Mater, I
stroled into the repository in Stephens green to
bid adieu to old H, who for thirty years had
horsed US of Trinity. 1t was a sale. day, and
blank one too; the world was out of town. There
were few to sell, and fewer yet to buy. hack
not worth hay band, was knocked down to an as
prlng-llnen draper, who wanted something smart"
whereon to dust himself occasionally. | saw him
regularly Jockeyed with infinite satisfaction, as he
had once dunned me, even unto payment, for 8
lbeggarly account" of gloves and Iocket handker-
chiefs. Although he did not venture to invite me
to be of the multitude of his cOunsellors as had
broken his windows upon the evening had paid
his bill, that did not prevent me from pointing out
certain beauties in the quadruped then beneath the
hammer, which even had escaped the auctioReer
himself Indeed, according to my showing, the
cardinal virtues of horse-hesh were concentrated
In that matchess animal. Yet human Judgment is
fslble, and the steed did not realize the qualifca-
tons ascribed to him by the puffer and myself for,
as the Evening Post soon afterwards announced,
Mr.. Lawrence LutestrlI was run away with upon
the rocky road, and the excited coprser, not con-
tent with demollshlng sundry ribs of the unfortu-
nate cavalier had, from an infrmity of vision come
IN contact with loaded jauntingcar, and the con-
Icusslon was so awful, that the company were de-
posted in wet ditch, and the vehicle rendered
horse de combat
| was about to leave the yard, when old Phil,
lprme-mlnster to the repository, logged me or the
the elbow. ''Stop rninute-it's worth while, sir.
There's queer one coming oul-he's the devil, to
be sure. Och, if he had but temper; but here
he Is" While he spoke, rattling high-bred dark
bay horse issued from the stables. He was in the
lowest condition imaginable, but, notwithstanding
his poverty, he was the ruin Of noble aHimal-he
was far from being handsome the head was coarse,
the shoulder thick !; but he embodied some good
points, and, though cross made, to experienced
eye his I" ensemble" was excellent. Archy, my
best man-as honest groom as ever won living,
whispered, if he had not the go in him, he was
the biggest william under the canopy" and before
the animal had made the third turn down the run,
L had come to a similar conclusion.
| The groom stopped when he had gained the vantage
ground. ''There, gentlemen" said the auctioneer,
&" there's what call youth and beauty there's the
maker of fortune, and no mistake The lady
who could refuse anything to with such a
daisy cutter under him would be hard to please in
deed-run him down, Lanty--that's action and ell
egance-come, sir" to tall, raw-boned young
grocer-''th horse was foaed for you-a gentle
man of your figure should never cross anything
but blood-this here horse is young Selim; he's
own brother to Mouse-catcher; cousin to Morgi-
ana, and mp to fourteen stone with any fox-houndS
in the king ngdom'-but Selm appeared likely to pro-
fit little by his respectable relationship; he had
rec look, blemished knee, was fired behind, and
had killed man into the bargain; for he had run
off with drunken helper, and broke the riders
neck against the frame work of the stable-door-
now, in company Of sober cits, requiring steady
roadsters," and ''usefu family horses, Sem found
little favor; and the young grocer, even to become
a lady-killer, would not bid sixpence.
Gentlemen, put him up at Tty," said he of
the hammer no reserve in this case-none, upon
honor-owner gone to the Peninsula and orders
for sale absolute. Selim is beautiful charger
steady with arms" and here he addressed corpu-
lent parsonage, who as it appeared, was in the yeo
manry; "he would carry you upon parade delight
fully his courage is only equalled by his training
his late master would rlde him to battery"
battery-Inay heaven forgive him! Selim had nev |
er seen a eorporals guard relieved in his life a
cracker would raise him skyhigh, and asqub send
him across the broadest part of Sackve-street. |
STILL not a whisper from the company, and the auc /
tioneer proceeded gentlemen, we must sacrifice
himorders peremptOry, say forty for the beauti-
ful and GENTLE animal - gentle" calculated the |
grocer "and that after killing groom" This
was indeed home hit-the auctioner coughed-
" hem-hem-rather unfortunate, but mere acci-
dent after all-say thirty, gentemen-twenty-
do give me bid.'' Five" roarcd jingle own
-er-" ten' said Archy-" fifteen" shouted the puff
fer--'> >trUenty" cried 1.-the hammer fell--and the
brother Of Mouse catcher was mine.
Now, verify believe, that the whole history OF |
Selim was apocryphal, except the solitary fact of
his having finished stable-boy. In one thing, "
however, Archy and | were unanimous-that to a
herring-cadger he worth the money, provided |
he would carry The baskets We brought him to
the country-bed, fed, blistered, and physiced him.
secundum drteTn, turned him ont upon fine salt |
marsh, and left him "to fulfill his destines."
At this memorable period of my life, the north |
of Ireland was celebrated for its sporting assocla
tions. The Boyne the DOagh, the Newtownbreda
coll nd foy of tho
towns wanted their own peculiar club. Many pr-
vate gentlemen were also masters of hounds, and
kept their establishments noby. Then the glory
of "The Rangers" in its zenith-their country
and members were alike extensive and no gentle
men attached to field sports within thirty miles,
whose rank and fortune would authorize his admis-
sion but was enrolled in this celebrated club. The
members met annually in the county town, attend
ed by pack of fox-hounds, and ga gallant follow
ing" They lived like ''Irish Kings" played high,
drank Deep seldom went to bed gave dashlng balls,
and set the country in a blaze weeks before, and
months afterwards. Alas! all this is over the club
is ne more the pack is scattered; the kennel
ruin; {" The Rangers fill the narrow house, and
where in Ireland could rank, and wealth, and lnhu-
ence, be congregated now?
Into "The Rangers had recently been ad-
mitted their meeting was fixed for the middle OF
October, and the cup, with other valuabes plates,
we're then to be contested. The cup had excited
unusual interest, and had been challenged by
dozen members, good men and true, and each hav-
ing, or believing he had, an excellent chance of
winning it. The race was three miles. over Hi6er-
nice sporting, AngEce a break-neck, country-the
weights thirteen stone. There were already eight
candidates in full preparation. Six depended on !
their own horses-good fat, honest, weight-carri-
ers---but two had gone to considerable expense,
and had secured at ga large figure" celebrated
racing hunters for the ronce."
T.. ofI "