Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-08-08
The Sultan's Gift to Grant.

The Sultan's Gift to Grant.
A charming drive over the shaded
Piney Branch road brought us to
Bri8htwood--five miles north Of Wash
ington-a pretty suburban village that
lies around the crumbling earthworks
OF Fort Stevens, the only one of the
many defences of the Federal City that
has become historical from the mem
orable attempt of Gen. Jubal Early to
capture the capital and cover Gen.
Lees march northward, which culmi-
mated in the terrible battle OF Gettys.
burg.
We stopped at Moses. The broad
verandas were furnished with cane easy
chairs. The pleasant sight of teeming
fields and wooded uplands beyond
would have beguiled even Diogenes to
pause and seat himself, had there been
no other attraction, 80 quiet and restful
was the place. After some refreshment,
in which the Teutonic cup which cheers
and is supposed not to inebriate, helped
US out, we went over to the stables. !
say we, for had invited connoisseur
Of equine points to accompany me, for
l remember on former occasion of .
party writing about celebrated horse
making the astonishing announcement
to the public that the animal was six
teen feet high.
In box some twenty by twenty Eve
feet square, open to the east, the floor
covered with clean, sweet straw, un-
tranmeled by halter or bride, stood
one of the Sultan's gifts to Gen. Grant.
The dsppled gray beauty danced up to
the rope barrier, over which hung his
Turkish wraps, Is warm as wool and a.
light as down, and playfully laid his
velvet lips against my cheek. The
eyes are large, humid orbs, as trustful
in expression as fawn's, and the small
pointed ears AZ flexible as lace. His
name translated from the Arabic is
1.-THE Leopard" but only in the won
derful shading Of the spots on his front
and quarters has he any semblance to
his feline namesake. He stands one
inch over fifteen hands, and is years
old. The dapple shades into soft
gray on his body, that is as round as q
barrel. The hairs Of his name and tail
without wave or ripple, hang as straight
Is spun silk, conceded the truest EVIL
dence Of his lofty lineage. The kingly
creature was pet among those who
tended him in the Orient, and he, with
his mate, Linden-tree," were selected
out of stud Of twelve hundred horses
belonging to the Sultan of Turkey.
These horses are priceless in value, and
are never sold. None of this strain
has ever been in this country until
now.
Linden Tree" is not near as o.
tractive in appearance as "The Leo
pard." He is darker, that is, his body
is dappled where his mates is solid
gray, and both name and tail are
heavier his eyes are neither as kindly
nor luminous as his mates and he is
shyer as he is but five years old hs
may improve in temper. A more per-
feet creature was never foaled in the
equine family than "The Leopard -
grace, beauty, docility and intelligence
are his dominant qualities. He is as
atiectionate and playful as q child. His
gentle touch of my face was as tender
as possible. One studies him as O
beautiful picture, and yet no painter
could do him justice. His skin glis-
tens like satin, and his hoofs are tended
as carefully as the henna-tipped nails
of Sultana. A harness has never been
laid on him, and probably never will
be.
The distinguishing characteristics of
these horses are endurance and bottom.
They will 60 from fifty to sixty miles
without rest on foot, making the dis
lance without wetting hair" or
marked fatigue.
They were brought to this country at
the expense of the Sultan himself, on
the Turkish steamer Marc, they being
the only cargo, as the vessel came for
arms manufactured for the Ottoman
Government at Hartford, Conn. The
passage across from Constantinople.
where they we're shipped, occupied
thirty-one days. Their food during
the voyage was one pound Of honey
and peck of barley each day. When
they landed at New Haven five thou
sand people and o band of music es-
corted them from the ship to the
stables.
They were consigned to Gen. E. F.
Beale, of this city, who has the privi-
lege CT doing with them as he likes.
Their journey to this place has been d
series Of ovations at every place where
they have stopped. While at Prices
in The city, the stables were thronged
with the most distinguished people,
ladies and children vieing with the
sterner sex in making much of the
Sultan's gift. They will remain at
Moses stables, Brightwood, until
boxes are prepared for their reception
on Gen. Bea!e's farm in Montgomery
Co., Nd, when they will be taken
there for the summer. They know
nothing whatever about pasturage.
When in field they will snuff the
grass, but do not dare to eat it; il
pulled and offered to them they will
eat it, but seemingly without relish.
Their furniture and everything re-
lating to the animals is of the greatest
interest to the people here. Their sur
cingles are three times as broad as
those used in this country, and so
thoughtful was the giver that several
extra pairs of shoes were sent with
them. These shoes are very singular.
They are broad and round, the hind
part elongated and turned up slightly
SD ma IN nrotect tho froo NJ tho foot