The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1867-11-16
Race extraordinary.

Some years ago race was run NJ I'll
Hague, in Holland, which for its novelts
ezcik mora than ordinary interest. It was
between fast trotliag horse in harness and
full-growa hog single heat-distance,
SIX English mies-for a wager Of one thou
sand guilders.
The circumstances which led to this unique
trial OF spee0 were as fellows: At sporting
club at the Hague young member OF the
club expatiated upon the beauty, symmetry,
and extraordi aary speed Of q trotting horse
he had that day purchased, expressing al
eager desire to gee up n match to prove the
superior qualities Of his horse. A gentle
rnff, crrgEged IN s7isr1s st carrs, but whose
sttention had been attracted by the ardent
and impassioneI remarks Of the speaker,
quietly remarked "Come, sir; don't be
Dragging 30 much about the swiftness Of
your horse, for | have pig which, for a
tr,fiug wager, would not hesitate to run
against vOur horse" Peels OF Laughter
greeted this strange proposal, to which
when partially su5sided-the owner Of the
Grunty" quietly inssrposed: "Well, gen-
tletuen, now chailenge to run my hog
Nero, against that geatleman's fast lrotte or
in harness, one straight heat, SIX English
miles, for one thousand guilders q side .
ss Done - " donei" was the eager response
from many voices. "Proyiied," the chal-
lenger resumed, sahas the horse carry two
psrsons, and that fourteen days time b. al
lowed for training my animal" "Agrse II
Agreed % resounded aR aea@d; for The
joke Vas deemed too good and too novel 10
give ID the go-by.
PrSlimtnavIes being satisfactorily arranged
and the stakes deposited, it was agreed that
the match should come of that day fort
night at II o'clock a M, precisely; and the
beSatifnl avenue leading from the Hagae to
the sea-shore at Scheveninzen was selected
a. the course. The news. OF this extraordI-
aary match Tor trial OF speed between a
fast trO.ting- horse eni full grown poI ker
spread like Wild Gre, and caused the most
intense excitement, not alone in sporting
circles bus among the people generally-ail
eager to see t1e fun. The day was anxious
" looked for, aid the training Of Nero
begin.
On the 6rst day poor Nero was starved,
strict orders having been given BY bis owner
thai no one should fed him, himself alone
attending to that matter. On the second
day Nero was pretty sharp set, when punc-
tually As eleven o'clock nIS master made bis
appearance A rope was securely fastened
to one o. bis hind-trotters, and his master
drove him, with mIny a kick and forcible
persuasion, all the waF over the course to
Schevenus.n, where he fed him upca a
scantY meal Of two herrings, which Nero
raw snously devourej after which ns had to
trot Il back to the Hague. II may be proper
here to remarkl that the bog prefers FISH to
any other lind Of food.
On the shird day Nero felt perfectly raw
enous, but he hai to bije his time, and HE
master had TO resort TO the strictest hog
discipline to start him OF when, ~ eleven
O'Clock, be presented himself to drive over
the course. After liberal and snerg etic
application of the booted foot, and littls
loud and angry discussion between the re-
spective parties, they arrived at their Jour.
ney's end, where Nero was regaled with
three behring's, being ons extra, and which
he despatched voraei oEsly in double quick
time, looking for more, but ia vain. H.
wassthen, with much coaxing and kicki ng,
persnsde to resume the return trip home
ward, aud which was safely accomplished,
although nota without considerable opposi-
ton, accompanied by vigorous squeah M
and determined granting on the part oI
Nero.
On the fourth day, punetsally ut eleven
0'cleuks when bis master presented himself
Nero seemed 10 understand somewhat the
obyect Of bis calling; he walked on not only
WITHOUT c0mpuissoa, but with considerable
alecsasy7at1a good raund pace, 10 70 to his
journeY's end, where his Inastrr reraled him
NOT sl0ne wzih his coveted dinner Of thnss
behring's but ~ reward for his trsctabiliy
aud good condnet with one herring extra,
and which Nero devoured With incredible
velocity AZ soon - they b~csme within reach
Of his grinders Is
Oa the lifth day Nero was fully up to the
game, and hrs master exyefiencsd consider
sole -asRcally 70 kep mp wnh him. al
ScheEeaangea the usual silo9apce, nox, 81
fur behring's, was placed At his disposai
and disposed Of By him la short metre. i;
On tte Following days, aad up u ne tims
efAthe sacs, his mAssir hal n furfhsr dill.
esitY With Nsso hpt 70 keep W wixh hi.d
Nero inserinblY tskiag lhs lead althonxk
on his return trips IN s4ms dif6culriss =
ways REQUIRED. A Vigorous seplssak6su ii
boots was IN euch case the oni1 couvinciIia
6fRnmeft Nith Nero. ~ nssSt co6ld ~
I'd point nof connpt Esd6 ths nscsiif.y'' :
tbis beck Track m6Ssnsnt, and svsr os,stfsD
er0QsIY sQR ked and groa,sd 10 ". .f,oe,
deeFni1k l4is exflS &tr6l6s 6fo&s1(y h snpsr
Hxxr& eM NS Rxkk2K 49, ~ 80 .M A4a ~.