Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-08-08
The American Nobility at Long
Branch-sV What they Drive
and How

|
Branch-What they dyive
[ and How.
A letter from Long Branch gives an inter
esting account of how the mobility of this
country enjoy the season there, and what
sort of driving is done It says:
First take the Presidents stable. And
here let me say that some of the accounts
from Long Branch, portraying the extent
and value of the Presidents horses and car
riages, have been very much exaggerated.
There are probably twenty stables worth
more than his. q here use stable in the
horseman's sense. meaning the horses) now
at the Branch. He has four bays and a
pair Of colts. One team of bays, driven to
Mrs Grants landau, is composed of Gin
cinnati and Egypt, one Of which was Gener-
al Grants war horse, and the other he has
owned ever since he has been in Washing
ton. Both horses are getting quite old; all
though they are yet get steppers The 9th
er pair Of bays are also driven to Mrs.
Grants carriage, and also to high seated
pbaeton Sometimes they are driven four
in hand to the heavy landau The only
thing that would attract attention to this
team is the white lines and the check straps
which seem to be generally taboed by per-
sons Of refinement. The carriages of the
President are four in number, and are as
unostentatious as any gentleman could wish.
The family carriage has been driven ever
since Gen. Grant became President. Il is
substantial but notshowy The high phae-
ton or drag, is the same in which the owner
drove from bis street residence in Wash
ington, to the Capitol, when he first took
the oath of office It is. therefore, we'll
known, but it is yet very respectable car
riage and that is all He has also a good
piapo-box. no better than hundred farmers
have within twenty miles of New York =
To this the President drives his pair Of colts
which are Of excellent action and speed -
This is the best teams he owns. In addi-
ton to these carriages. Miss Grant has
modest one-horse basket phaeton, in which
she sometimes drives Cincinnati and pair
of ponies. Gen. Grant never drives out in
the family carriage, but instead, prefers his
pbaeton or light buggy This statement is
in simple fairness due to correct an unjust
prejudice on the part Of portion Of the pub
| lie.
On the adjoining lot to the Presidents
is the stable of George w Chilas, the pub
Usher and philanthropist of Philadelphia.
He drives pair Of high headed bays, long
tails, good travellers to six seat barouche,
and also to Germantown wagon, coach
man and footman in livery Also. the la
dies Of bis household drive fioe gray TO
basket phaeton, with rumble Thos Muir
ply, across the way, has fine stable of
nine or ten horses. To Mrs MurphY's
handsome landau is driven a pair of large
bays with banged tails, very stylish turn
out. He has also a team of bay trotters,
which he drives to phaetou and buggy ),
also fine black and sorrel team belonging
to Miss Murphy which she drives with
much skill to handsome low phaeton with
rumble. Mr.. Murphy has also a single
trotter and two ponies, which the children
drive and ride. Mr.. Richard Murphy, the
oldest son, drives the most stylish horse at
the Branch to very genteel road wagon
His cream colored horse, it is said can
make 2:35, and it is yet question whether
he can be ''dusted" by any trotter on the
shore.
John Hoey has probably the best stable
at the Branch Mrs. Hoeys carriage is a
heavy English landau, drawn by black
and bay, banged, white driver and foot
man in knee brooches. The team is good
one, and the carriage new and heavy. He
has brown and chestnut trotting teams
which, it is said, has been driven ia les,
than ESQ to pole It is probably the best
team at the Branch. Miss Josie Hoey, his
daughter, drives by all odds. the most sty-
lish and valuable turnout Of any lady on Il 9
road. Her horses are of g bright sorrel,
perfectly matched, fast travellers, and met
tlesome. Her wagon is q very elaborate,
long. geared basket phaeton. with high rum
BILE. She manages her team with much
grace and judgment.
Jay Gould has probably the most costly
turnout, but one of the most modest to be
seen on the road. His team is pair Of
powerful, thoroughly matched bays fine long
straight legs, high heads, and whose action
is at once easy and strong They are driv.
en- to beautiful landau. very large and deep
and exceedingly graceful. His harnesa, al
though not snowy, is in excellent keeping
and very rich. The livery Of the driver is
very subdued and the whole equipage would
not attract as much attention as a single
horse TO two wheeled dog cart that parades
with footman up and down the avenue
every evening Gould has also two or three
fast teams, which he drives to yellow
wheeled readwagon,