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

following story recently
II don't remember just what year 1t
was" Mr. Beck said, but it was before
came to Congress and when was quite
young man, that l was in New York city,
1t was in the days when the old Bloom
ingdale road was a favorite drive for New
Workers with fast horses. Now | like
fast horse myself, aud l thought l had
ridden behind some. One afternoon l
was up town, OF what was at that time up
town in New York, and a gentleman came
along whom | knew. His name was Cap
tain Norris. III was driving dreadfully
bonv aud angular looking mare and when
he asked me if would ike to take seat
beside him | was almost ashamed to get
in behind such specimen of horse-fesh,
Sdn, | knew that Captain Norris was
something of lover of horses, and, be-
side, couldn't in courtesy refuse him
so | got in. The sleepy seeming old mare
logged along ia the most tiresome way.
Her head hung down. and it seemed as
though it was all she could do to drag her
| legs along.
@Weu 90 out on the Bloomingdale
road if you don't mind, the captain said,
'aud see some Of the steppers.
Well, that would be pleasant enough,
for l thought l would have a chance to
see a 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 stopper himself,
knowing how fond he was of fast driving.
( He said that he sometimes did take fast
horse out, and remember looking at the
dingy, bony mare, aud feeling for the cap
tain some Of the shame which | thought
/ he ought to have felt for himself ! mo-
,iccd, too that TIE people whom we pass.
/ ed. who recognized him, were staring at
+ his mare. and l thought that they were
wondering how 1t was that Cap'ain Norris
I
was cut with such a plug as that
By.aud by a noble animal passed rs.
I The gentleman who was driving looked,
as he passed, around At the captain l
/ noticed that the captain nodded, aud that
he took little frmor grip Of the reins.
The gentleman slowed up little, suih-
ciently to let Us pass,
"Try it, Cap. he shouted.
The captain nodded.
I / saw that the mare lifted her bead 4
little as the grip on the reius sish,ened,
and pu. some little animation into her
+ feet By-aud.by We heard the olatier Of
hoofs back of US | looked around aud
saw that the gentleman vas coming at
splendid pace.
"s4e ii he passes Us. said the captain,
a. he made Que little chirrup TO the mare.
Gentlemen, l have seen transformation
scenes have seen the cid man in the
opera Of Faust changed in an instant to
the handsome young fellow I have seen
politician change bis coat, bat | never
saw such transformation as thea hap
pencd. The mare lifted ber head. Her
ears no longer hung limp They we're
erect aud tossed 10 catch the sound Of
those approaching boofs, Her diusy body
now seemed to CLEAN, and her legs looked
ike the spokes Of rapidly revolving
wheel. She was all FIRE, al animation, all
electricity, | could think Of nothing but
locomotive rushing along At the rate Of
mile minute. Heavens, how the wind
cut my face
Look out fJr your hat, Beck, said
the captain, and pulled it down over my
ears. | glanced quickly at the captain
he held the rcins firmly aud his eyes were
fixed ahead. We were pluuging ahead on
whirlwiod. thoasht what beauty
that mare now is, and thought there was
only one end Of it Standardization. /
grabbed the seat firmly with both hands,
and pressed uy feet against the dash-
board. The wind moaued in my ears, al
though we made the breeze ourselves. |
could hardly breathe, ! could not see, ex-
cent away ahead knew We were pass
ing 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. | said to myself, james Beck
your day has come. Whew.w-w-w how
we were flying. There was no motion ex-
eepling speed. We we're flying oger 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
VIC had reached aud passed them, and as
we went by the three men seemed mingled
into one. When will this end | won
dered. The suspense was awful. / wanted
whatever was going to happen to happen
at once. 1t seemed as though We had
been an hour riding when the speed slack
eued slower aud slower and at last the
mare stopped. I opened my eyes and saw
that We were standing at roadside inn.
care you through, captain y trem-
blingly asked.
"Yes, he said, laughing, "let's take a
little Santa Cruz.
The captain turned the mare over to a
hostler and We went inside, and | helped
myself pretty literally,
"Captain, you gave me great fright,
I said. Il had no idea that mare could
60. Why she's fit to be racer. "
eyes, I don't know but she is, said the
captain, nonchalantly.
Chow long were We coming down here?'
| asked
"About eight minutes.
"How far is it,"