The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-08-22
An American in Florence.

From the high box of large open car
rage an old gentlemen of fine appear
ance, slightly gray, guides with great
skill through the narrow and crowded
streets his team of ten, twelve, and some
times fourteen horses. These have rich,
gold mounted harness, are all bright bay
in color, and are matched with the great
est care. Back of the gentleman who
drives sit with folded arms two footmen
in handsome livery.
The owner and driver is Henry Brock
hoist Livingston. His father, Brock
hoist Livingston, was staff officer in
the Revolutionary Army, atterward Judge
of the Supreme Court of this State and
later Justice of the Supreme Court of the
United States. Brockholst Livingston's
father, William Livingston, in 1776 was
made Governor of New Jersey, and con-
tinued in that position until his death in
1890. Governor Livingston was a grand
son of the founder of the American fam
lily, Robert Livingston, who received, by
royal charter from George l., grant of
land comprising most of the present
Counties of Columbia and Duchess,
and known as the Livingston Manor.
Henry Brockholst Livingston is now
somewhat over sixty years of age, and
for thirty-tive years has lived on the
Continent of Europe. For nearly twenty
years he has made his home in Florence.
He married an Italian lady of rank, but
has been widower for several years.
Mr.. Livingston received q liberal educa-
ton and is an excellent classical scholar.
He inherited an ample fortune, and has
never devoted himself to any professional
or business pursuit. In his youth he
was fond of athletic sports, and the pas
sion of his mature life seems to be the
driving of fine horses.
A relative who maintains correspond
ence with him and who knows him init
mately, said, recently: "Ihe last time l
saw Brockholst Livingston was IN Paris
Inlet me think-1S43, and | am quite
sure he has not been in this country since
that wear. He has lived in various places
on the Continent, but for many years has
resided in Florence. When | saw him
last he was II young man; tall, finely
formed, with straight Grecian features
and very handsome. He was half
brother to the late Carroll and Arson
Livingston, and is an uncle to young
Carroll Livingston who is now in Europe.
The late Arson Livingston formerly
managed his American property, but he
has gradually withdrawn his money from
this side and placed it in European IN
vestments. He makes no new invest
ments here, preferring to have his prop
erty nearer his home. He is wealthy,
fond of horses, and prdes himself on his
skill as whip. In his letters he fire.
ouently refers to his stable and to his
driving a team of dozen horses. Fond
ness for horses and athletic sports Is a
trait in the Livingston family. He is a
careful, provident man, and certainly not
extravagant, unless the keeping for pleas
ure of a dozen or more horses may be
considered an expensive habit. But 1t Is
his passion, and in Florence probably
not very costly one. Whenever his
relatives visit Florence he entertains
them at his home. He is distantly con-
nected with the Jay family, his grand
fathers sister having married Chief
Justice John Jay.-N. Y. Tribune.
Gambling at Agricultural Fairs.
Eli Stilson, Superintendent OF the Wis
consin Agricultural State Fair Grounds,
lately wrote the Prairie Farmer relating
to Gambling at Agricultural Shows"
calling attention to facts concerning the
large sums divided by sporting men and
their accomplices in crime, meaning the
society managers who tolerate this great
wong by sharing the spells under the
plea that it is for the societys treasury.
Read what Mr.. Stilson says:
During the last four years, by unani-
nous agreement of the executive COM
mittee of the State Agricultural Society,
| have excluded all gambling and games
of chance from the State Fair grounds.
Yet each year the number and prices Of
fered for the use of the fair grounds show
that these vampires must be meeting
with success somewhere. | have thus
early before me, as superintendent OF the
State fair grounds, several letters and cir
culars, asking to rent for their hellish
purposes. One offers $500, and gives
list of fairs where he claims he practiced
his denominations last year, and among
them are the State Fair at Dayton, Ohio,
and State fair at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and
five district fairs in Illinois. But the
circular does not say one word about
how the good sense and moral indigna-
ton Of the people at one OF those Illinois
district fairs were so aroused that all the
officers of the fair were indicted and
heavily fined, just as they should always
be. anj likely will be in the future. An
other circular and letter wants to take
the State Agricultural Society in as part
ner in its cut throat depravity, and claims
that i, usually clears from 81 200 to $4,000,
and one half of this, the blood money of