New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-08-30
The Breaking of Old John Harper's
Heart-A Funeral and n Wedding.
From the New York Sun.I

Correspondence of the Commercial Advertiser
| sat with John Harper at the left Of the
grand stand, and watched every motion OF
the old mans face. Longfellow had run
around the track twice Immediately pre-
ceding the race, a proceeding unaccountable
to many here to-day.
"Why did you do it I" asked Mr.. Harper
Because thought old Long was leetle
tight, and 1 wanted to see if he would sweat
we'll"
+ As the horses started, I asked John
Harper how Longfellow was prepared for
the race
very WELL" he replied; "only leetle too
high"
now give you faithful photograph OF
the scene:
The horses are now well on the second
mile. sit by John Harper. Glow is he
going?" | asked old John, who sits with
his cold gray eyes sternIy fixed on the race.
HE is doing very well-only the boy is
riding him leetle too fast-faster than
ordered him-but he's good boy, and
reckon he knows what be- Is about"
The horses now passed the grand stand
the second time.
"How is he going now 7" L asked.
"The boy is making him go a little furder
out than ordered him, but reckon Long
fellow has got the race" The old man
which seems to take away his breath.
The horses now enter upon the third mile.
Longfellow begins to throw out his tail
81 guess the boy is too weak for him."
says Old John, quietly, his eyes still fixed
on the race in dreadful silence.
The horses now pass the grand stand a
third time, almost neck and neck.
John Harper looked happy and secure.
You are very quiet for one who has
$4,000 depending on the race, remark.
The old man makes no reply. He never
spoke after this. Longfellow seemed to let
down his head as if exhausted, caught the
bit, and it was all up in moment.
"What is the matter, Uncle John y
Not word in reply; but the old mans
eyes seemed to be wandering, and his mind
had gone away from the grand stand-to
his horse.
Helmbold now made sudden squirt took
the lead, and held it like grim death. John
Harper looked like one at the deathbed of
a friend-hope, sickIy hope, beaming in his
countenance, and that was all. Not word
escaped his lips. He saw his love, his
pride, his Idol, break down before his eyes,
while ten thousand demoniac voices
shouted and made bedlam on the ground
stand.
'.Longfellow has been drugged,o growled
Colonel Bridgeland to old John. John Har-
per, made no reply. His heart seemed
broken, and "He's gone" were the only
words he uttered after the third mile
As he muttered these words 1 felt a feel
ing "a psychologist feeling of pity for the
good old man. Demoniac shouts went up
from ten thousand hoarse Threats, but old
John heard them not. He heard, saw
nothing but his painting horse, heard moth
ing but his hard breathing. | got up and
walked down the track with him. He
walked up by Longfellow, his defeated
pride, his dead hope, but was silent as the
grave. The grand old horse stood trembling,
with his head down, exhausted. The last
mile was too much for him. Enquirer Jim
ran into the weigh house, dotted his suit,
and went mournfully back into the stable
with his horse and his gray-haired owner.
To me the race was funeral and we'd
ding. While the old mans heart was break
ing, ten thousand people were wild with joy.
could not rejoice. only saw. and hoped,
and suffered with the white haired old man
nv my side