The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-07-16
Our Olio.
SENATOR BEOK'S RIDE.
How Sleepy Old Mare Astonished Him

lOlIOWlnS story recently:
II don't remember Just what year it
was" Mr.. Beck said, "but it was before |
came to Congress and when was quite a
young man, that was in New York city.
1t was in the days when the old Bloom
ingdale road was favoritc drive for New
Workers with fast horses. Now I like a
fast horse myself, and thought | had
ridden behind some. One afternoon l
was up town, OF what was at that time up
town in New York, and gentleman came
along whom [ knew. His name was Cap.
tain Norris He was driving dreadfully
bony and angular looking mare, and when
he asked me if would like to take seat
beside him | was almost ashamed to get
in behind such specimen Of horsefesh.
Still, | knew that Captain Norris was
something of lover of horses, and, be-
side, | couldn't in courtesy refuse him ;
so l got in. The sleepy seeming old mare
logged along in the most tiresome way.
Her head hung down, and it seemed as
though it was all she could do to drag her
legs along.
"Wc'll 90 out on the Boomingdale
road if you don't mind" the captain said,
"and see some of the steppcrs."
We'll, that would be pleasant enough,
for [ thought would have chance to
sec brush or two between some of the
noted horses of New Yerk of that day. |
said to the captain that [ almost wondered
why he wasn't out with ssepper himself,
knowing how fond he was Of fast driving.
He said that he sometimes did take a fast
horse out, and | remember looking at the
dingy, bony mare, and feeling for the cap
tain some of the shame which [ thought
he ought to have felt for himself. [ no.
tiecd, too, that the people whom we pass
ed, who recognized him, were staring at
his mare, and [ thought that they were
won dcring how it was that Captain Norris
was out with such a plug as that.
By-and-by a noble animal passed US.
The gentleman who was driving looked,
as he passed, around at the captain. L
noticed that the captain nodded, and that
he took little frmer grip Of the reins.
The gentleman slowed up little, suffi-
GENTLY to let US pass.
"Try it, Cap he shouted.
The captain nodded.
[ saw that the mare lifted her head a
little as the grip on the reins tightened,
and put some little animation into her
feet. By-and-by we heard the clatter of
hoofs back of us. [ looked around and
saw that the gentleman was coming at a
splendid pace.
"See il he passes us, said the captain,
as he made one little chirrup to the mare.
Gentlemen, have seen transformation
scenes; | have seen the old man in the
opera of Faust changed in an instant to
the handsome young fellow. [ have seen
politician change his coat, but l never
saw such a transformation as then hap
pcncd. The mare lifted her head. He
ears no longer hung limp. They were
erect and tossed to catch the sound Of
those approaching hoofs. Her dingy body
now seemed to CLEAN, and her legs looked
like the spokes of a rapidly revolving
wheel. She was all fire, all animation, all
electricity. l could think Of nothing but
locomotive rushing along at the rate of
a mile minute Heavens, how the wind
cut my face.
"Look out for your hat, Beck" said
the captain, and pulled it down over my
ears. I glanced quickly at the captain ;
he held the reins firmly and his eyes were
fixed ahead. We were plunging ahead on
a whirlwind. | thought what a beauty
that mare now is, and [ thought there was
only one end of it all-annihilation. |
grabbed the seat firmly with both hands,
and pressed my feet against the dash
board. The wind moaned in my ears, al
though we made the breeze ourselves. L
could hardly breathe, [ could not see, ex-
cept away ahead. I knew We were pass
inc team after team, and [ heard the peo-
pie cheer. l shut my eyes. thought
the crash would come. [ would have
begged the captain to stop if the speed
had not been so great that speech was i'm,
possible. I said to myself, "James Beck:
your day has come" Whew-w-w-w how
we were flying. There was no motion ex,
ccpting speed We were flying over the
road, horse and riders, seemingly impelled
by an unseen, irresistible power. open
ed my eyes once and saw some men away
: ahead waving their hats. In an instant
we had reached and passed them, and as
: we went by the three men seemed mingled
into one. When will this end? [ won
dered. The suspense was awful. l wanted
, whatever was going to happen to happer
: at once. 1t seemed as though we hac
5 been an hour riding when the speed slack
, encd slower and slower and at last the
mare stopped. opened my eyes and saw
: that we were standing at a roadside inn.
care you through, captain ?" | trem
blingly asked.
eyes," he said, laughing, 'let's take
little Santa Cruz.
The captain turned the mare over to
hostler and we went inside, and [ heIpeo
myself pretty literally.
'"Captain, you gave me great fright,
7 said. II had no idea that mare coulo