Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-07-23
1ha KInn Of the Turf.

The Iurf, Field and Farm, in its
! issue Of the 18th instant, has the fol.
lowing eloquent aIlusiOn to the new
King Ofthe Turf, LongfeD0W, and
his owner, John Harper, in an &C.
count of the races at Monmouth
Park: LOngfe]low is now led upon
the course, in order that the people
may look upon one Of the grandest
horses foaled in America. His easy
victory in The Monmouth Cup,
coupled with his imposing appear
ance, has made q hero of him. What
8 magnificent horse he is. He stands
seventeen hands, and yet so perfect
are his proportions, that the casual
eye would not judge him to be as tall
as he is. His lines are what even
Hogarth would call lines Of beauty.
and how does his graceful tapering
neck harmonic with his bodyi His
head among equines is what Lord
Brougham's head was among man
kind. Those clear, liquid eyes fash
with intelligence, and the thin, wide
nostrils speak Of aristocratic lineage
Though a magnificent-looking horse,
and honOred as some royal being,
LongfellOW walks the-eaFth meekly,
almost humbly. He seems to feel his
power and to be conscious of his
greatness; therefore, enoJneed to be
arrogant. Less worthy horses may
puff themselves Oup5eWith pride, for
pride is part of their reputation and
stock in trade. But the king can
well afford to walk meekly and to
lOwly bend his head. The poet who
q - -.I1 Al. 49, Of T@a-f,1IA-
famous should come from his quiet
student home and look upon this
royal son of bennington before he
returns to the Blue Grass region.
Come, noble bard, and gazeupon your
illustriOus ~nanesake; put your arms
around his glossy neck, took into his
expressive eyes, and then strike your
Tyre and the world will stand en-
tranced indeed. With such a theme,
the muse should soar to lofty flights
and sing with angelic power. How
fondly does the venerable Kentuckian
look upon his horse. Age has whit
ened the hair and taken the elastic
spring from the.step, but the heart of
the man Is still young. In drawing a
picture of the horse, you must not
forget his owner. Ills gthat gaunt,
plainly dressed old gentleman Har-
per?" asks the woman who worships
st the shrine of fashion. "Why
what simplicity Of manner and dress!
Can it be possible that he has refused
sixty thousand dollars for his horse?o
Yes, fair lady, that is John Harper.
has lived quietlife. Though age
has put q steopi into hisshoulders and
made a cane q comfort and support to
him, he elings to- the sunny side of ex-
istence. He is too old to dance after
that WILLIE -theswisp fashion, but not
too oldto find pleasure ia the manly
sports of the turf Simplicity OF dress
ard manner was the fashion when he
young, and he elings to the plain
customs Of his youth. Before time
had sllVered his hair he loved the
blood-horse for himself, not as an in
stEumeDt Of gsmbling-and that love
is faithf0l-it knows no change, at
least none this side of the graVss Wei
.reveDently lift our hats to you, old !
man, and devouty wish that there
were more like gou in the world.a
descent would then slope softly
aWaysin RTeen4sunshine would light
ap the path trod by trembling feet,
and death would e0meina sweet halo
Of brightness. eio