North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1867-09-25

are happy now.
A Rnssian Horse Tanner. r...,.., Il;
My friends" said Count Pomerin, as
we got through dinner, ~ have designed
little performance, which shall now in
troduce. 1t is the settlements Of % small af-
fair between me and my friend and tenant
Monsieur Defour, now present. bet him,
certain terms, that should i'll six weeks
tame wild horse of his. This is the last
day of the time specified, and we are with
in few hours of its entire. expiration
You shall judge between us. Ladies, l
beg you will be so kind as to keep your
seats, and let no one be in-the smallest de-
gree alarmed at what may now take place.
Timossy, tell John we are ready" -
We were all sitting in the centre of the
hall, with clear space around US Of con-
siderable extent. The door opened, and
magnificent jet-black charger Of the Ara
bian breed, bounced into the room, blow
ing clouds of smoke from his nostrils. lie
had no bride or saddle or any attend
ant. His flowing name waved in rich
masses half way down his knees, and his
tail swept the floor. .a,., ,
Some of the gentlemen sprang up from
their seats, and the ladies screamed.
81 implore you all to sit quiet there is
no danger in the least" cried the count
6 Do sit down." >n all were seated
again, he said "Come here, Nereckta,
! and kiss me;' and he held his arms out.
| The horse went straight to the head of the
table and held up his great lips to be kiss
ed. "There, now," and the count stamped
I fho fVx..o fho md
make your bow to the ladies'" The horse
Immediately obeyed, and approaching the
ladies (who f1mt togethcr), bowed four
times. Bdl were six ladies. The
count said 9 ~ but the horse refus-
ed. ''In the SdMearsal," said the count,
"we had only four lady dummies. 1 must
pass that part He then gave him some
sweet cake, and stamping three times, told
him to 90 down on his knees and beg par
don for intruding on the company. The
animal went gently down on one knee and
bent his head twice to the ground in great
humility. f.~.-. -
Now, then, get up and drink to the
health of all here" A tin can was handed
to the count, who emptied two bottles of
champaign into it c.ose to the horse's head.
He held up his head before drinking, gave
polite neigh to the company, and leisure
ly drank off the CHAMPAGNE The count
then jumped on his back, and was carried
quietly twice round the room.
The remaining part of the play said
the count, coming Oft the horse and laugh
ing, "must be seen elsewhere. Those who
have the curiosity will follow" He pass
ed out by the door, the horse following
him. We We're all led through pas
sage to the other end of the building where
there was a broad flight of steps leading to
the servant rooms.
The count pointed to the steps, clapped
the horse on the head and said {: $50. Ne
reckta." Nereckta obeyed at once, climb
ed about fifteen steps, turned on the land
ing, and came down again, carefully pick
ing his way.
| 6 Are you satisfied, my FRIEND said the
count, turning to the Frenchman, ''or must
appeal to the judges p
There is no occasion am satisfied.
1t is wonderful l have lost. Take the
papers, And he pulled out bundle Of
papers aud handed them to the count.
No soooner had the count received them
than he tore them up into shreds and seat
tered them in the lobby. Then, taking
from his pocket sealed packet, he handed
it to the Frenchman, saying:
" Here is a new contract on more just
and equitable terms. Do you take it, or
must destroy it also p
Certainly, count, will take it !: and
say you are generous-very kind"
That is finished, then,' said Pomerin.
:. Here john" (he spoke now in English).
Where are you p
All right, COUNT said voice from
the crowd of leokers-on, in the genuine
London cabby tone !; and a smartly dressed
groom. in racing.trim, stepped forward
He was, az to size, a boy of ten, but when
you looked into his face you could read
five-and-thirty. A neater, more trinity
made little fellow never saw. He APP
preached and .patted the horse, who seem
ed to welcome him as dear friend.
Now, John, just show them what he
can do in the other way" said the count.
/" We have seen the lamb, now we will see
the lion. Only once over and back, John"
All right, count"
We followed to the lawn ir front of the
house, which was lighted up by pine torch
es, and found for what purpose the hurd-
les and various other structures had been
put up in the lawn. The little groom
who was master Of the counts stud of
best horses) put q racing saddle and bri-
die on Nereckta, and sprang on his back.
Then commenced scene Of galloping
and leaping, the horse fitting round the
! park like swift bird. This ended the
performance, and when we returned to the
house to finish the evening the ladies had
retired. ., .
1t appeared that Defour had obtained n
renewal of his lease, or contract, on ridic-
ulously low terms, from the counts Ger
man steward, who very likely pocketed a
nice thing by the transaction. Saunderson
opened the counts eyes to this, as well as
many other tricks of the steward He en-
deavored to get the Frenohman to give up
his lease, but in vain. Defour, ciyilly OBJ
durate, refused-until one day the count
found him and some of his men, cruelty
lashing and training stubborn young
black horse. He had been trying to tame
this horse for some time, and was only
making the animal worse. The count told
him so, and said it was his want of skill,
not the fault of the horse, that caused the
failure. Now the F-enchman's weak point
was an overweening opinion of his own
skill in horse-fesh. The count, intention
ally or not, touched this point so hard,
that bet was made, the end Of which we
have seen. The count knew the horse,
and admired him and in conjunction
with his English groom, he had soon con-
quered the temper and gained she affec-
tons of the animal, which was then found
to be peculiarly tractablc and gentle
Training commenced many mock dinner
parties had been held, and the horse grad
ually taught the various movements we
had seen. The result was two hundred
rubles to the groom, the horse became the
property of the count, and the Frenchman