Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-07-18
THE GAZETTE.
MONDAY MORNING. July Is, 1859.
HORSE TALK.


Some OF our extra iasliionabes are aStonsh-
ing the Avenues by driving three horses
abreast-a Ia the Greek and Roman chariot
races, and those OF the uippodrome. The
notion comes from Paris, of course. Where
else could it have come from? The effect
upon the mind of the startled spectator is not
So dsagreeable rs one would suppose. To
moderate the tone of the thing, however. the
middle horse alone usually gallops, and the
two outside ones trot; thus combining the
show of gallop with the solid merit of the
less preientious pace. Still, the arrangement
narrowly escapes ridicule and will most ac-
suredly not take among people who really
understand and sympathize with the great
Quadruped. For Frenchman. DESTROYS of
stunning the town with novelty. at once
classical and laundering, it may answer; but
it won't do for New Yorker who keeps his
eye upon his secondhand, and feels all the
vastness Of the gulf between two thirty
eight and two forty--a chasm impercepti-
BILE to Gallo eyes. \ tight little team, oH
go and no fuss. is the New York notion of q
turnout.
Another thing about horses. You have
observed, courteous reader, that, OF late
years, the Struggle among horse-ianciers has
been to match their uags less in such trivial
matters as color and general appearance. As
in the infinitely more important particulars
of pace, action, power, endurance. Former
ly, the man was accounted fortunate VIII"
possessed two horses that ioo&ed exactly
alike. although in all the great essentials "t
q horse, the two animals had nothing what
ever in common. At present, team to
command the attention OF men fit To own Il
fine horse, must be mdfched-whether they
chance to be Of the sanle color or not
Observe. now. the blind stupidity of fashion.
Many men of long purse and shallow pate,
noticing that people CT horSe-celehrity drive
horses of different colors, leaped headlong to
the conclusion. that the last fashion WAS to
harness together white horse and black
one. Accordingly. we see men who use the
Gentlemen of Beasts only as means ofo>en-
tation selecting horses solely with the view of
getting team as violently unlike in color rs
possible, which shows that even Il good no
ton, when fashion adopts it, becomes folly.
lfany one doubts the truth Of the last re-
mark, let him observe the proceedings of those
young fools who occasionally exhibit them
selves on the Bloomingdale road riding "n
horseback, followed at the distance of hun
dred yards by mounted grooms. This Gus
tom, relic of tie feudal ayes when the
knight was followed by his faithful squire,
has in Europe certain proprety and utility.
1t is even there chiefly an ostentatlon, eSchew-
ed by men of sense, unless those men ot SENSE
are old and intirm, and need the assistance OF
groom. In this country the custom Is not
merely useless and silly; it is an otfence!-
1t is the vulgarest conceivable display OF
wealth; surprising even the iniamy Of cloth
ing servants in livery An American young
man that cannot manage his own horse. and
is willing to lose the freedom aud abomdon OF
his ride, by tagging mental to his heels, had
better emigrate to some country where money
without manhood is tolerated-if any such
country there be.
How astonishingly the horses of this island
have improved during the last fifteen years!
What numbers of superb animals may be
met on fine afternoon ON any Of the iavorite
roads about the city. And hot onl nave
the horses consecrated to pleasure improved.
but all horses-omnibus horses carmen's
horses, coal-cart horses, butchers horses
all are of higher quality than they were
formerly. Fifteen years ago, 1t was not
known, apparently, that 1t pays better. for
any purpose, to keep good horse than bad
one, and to keep horses in high condition
than in low But, nowadays, 1t is rare to
see horse that does not, upon the whole,
have good time.
Indeed, we are sometimes half indignant
to observe how much better some OF us care
for our horses than we do for our children.
Look at this carriage-and its burthen. 1t
is the carriage of "a man who really loves his
children IA thousand times better than he loves
his horses. But see! The horses are plump.
sleek, lively, vigorous; showing that their
nature is understood. and that they are treat
ed according to their nature. But, ah! the
children-how pale. how puny!how langu'd
which shows that their nature is not under
derstood: and they are dwindling and perish
ing in consequence.
Hail, coming day. when children shall
again be a. healthyas colts, and men as well
proomed rs horses. y. Ledger.
LADIES OvER-DREssING WHEN TRAVELLING.
In DR.. Halls admirable Journal Ut Health
We find the following:
Our wives and tau phters lose three-fOurths