Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-05-10
The HORSE.
DELIGHTS Of the DRIVE,
The Big Boom in the Horse Market
Ethical etehings and Pungent Points
ofimp,rtant Interest to Owners
and faneiers Equestrian
Matters 10 General.

a tbree.minute horse for private pleas
ure driving was looked upon by our
people as a monstrosity. The taste Tor
..goers" seemed to be dormant II not en-
tirely dead. Bot in recent years we
have awakened from our lethragy, and
from present indications 1t won't be
long until our city becomes a centre Tor
well bred, last stock.
Highly bred animals from all sections
OF the country are being brought here.
Already the far famed blue grass region
around Lexington, Kentucky, and the
celebrated stock farms throughout Ohio
are largely represented by numbers oil
fast horses seen on our streets. Nor IS
the boom in horseflesh confined to the
gentlemen. Our ladies, too, have caught
the fever and in consequence the city Is
full OF fancy little phaetons in all sizes
and shapes, and many and wonderful
are the stories told OF how dexterously
fair fingers grasp the ribbons and dust
the boys. Until recently but few Wheel
ing people had ever seen drag; now
we have a number Of them in the city.
Single seated, light driving way
ons for speeding purposes are
plentiful and increasing. At first one
horse seemed to satisfy, but last season
the indications were that nothing short
Of spanking team was considered ton,
AMI meaning mutterings were heard oil
tandem teams. Our liverymen rival
each other in trying to turn ont the
handsomest vehicles and fastest horses,
and taken altogether we have good rea.
son to feel proud OF the fine. equipages
that are seen on orr streets daily.
Matters in this line were never 80
promising rs this season.
Our carriage and harness manutactur-
ers have orders on hand that it will take
weeks to fill, and most OF them are for
the finest work.
Old horsemen who have been in the
business for years saw that never before
was the demand so great for fine riding
and driving horses.
In addition 10 all this the State Fair is
now on its feet, and it is the intention
Of the management TO make Tine horses
and racing the feature OF the expositlons.
This will naturally encourage and in.
tensify the taste that has already re.
ceived such an impetus, and we conn
IDENTIFY look forward to the time when
the fame OF Wheeling horses will 90 all
over the land, and people will flock to
our fairs from all parts OF the country
Just as they do to Louisville, Lexington,
Cleveland and other well known points
in this section that devote particular at
tention to horse culture.
In this conn, ction it will be OF interest
to owners and fanciers TO have littl in
sight into a first-class ecurie Wheeling
supports number OF very fine livery
stables, but unquestionably the leading
one, conducted on the best principles, is
that Of Robert Luke, Esq at No. l43O
Market street, and believing this
REGISTER reporter called at the above
establishment and was shown through
by the courteous proprietor. Mr.. Luke
is perhaps the best known liveryman in
the State For thirty years he has been
in the business in our city. Beginning
as a boy he has grown up in 1t, and his
establishment gives evidence Of an in
telligent and enterprising understanding
of all its requirements. Starting with
nothing but determination 10 succeed,
he has at last, by means OF close
application, hard work and straight
forward dealings placed himself
at the head and in possession OF an estab.
lishme mt and patronage that is model
OF it's kind. His commodious stables,
built OF bfick, are situated in the heart
of the city, occupying lot sixty-seven
feet front and running back one hun
dred and twenty.six feet. The entire
apartments are arranged with an eye
not only TO convenience and economy,
but likewise to health, being well venti-
lated, well lighted, OF an even tempera
ture, with large, comfortable stalls, and
everything being kept in perfect order,
is bright and clean.
A very noticeable feature sf his stock
is that every horse in his stable looks
bright, well-ied, sleek and in splendid
condit on. No horses in the city look so
well as his, and It is proverbial through
out the city that horses receive better
attention at his hands than anywhere
else.
Ii is likewise well known and gener-
allv admitted that his buygies carriages
harness and entire turnouts are in the
best order, the most stylish and the
finest in the city.
Especial care and attention il given
to boarding horses and his reputation
for first class treatment is 30 well known
that it needs no comment or recommen-
dation.
A matter of no small importance is the
fact that Mr.. Luke employs none but
the most experienced and skilled horse
men to attend his stables, always pre-
ferring to pay the highest price and
secure the best man.
In order to accommodate the rapidly
increasing custom he has been Obliged
to extend his quarters and has just put
up second story on the building and
put in an elevator so that the buggies
and lighter carriages can be run on the
elevator and lifted up stairs, and the
space gained thereby on the ground
floor will be occupied by additional
stalls.
In looking through the buggies and
phaetons, our attention was called to q
recent patent called "Jump.seat
Buggy" When closed, with a single
seat, it would be taken for an ordinary
box buggy, except that the box is few
inches longer, but by grasping a small
handle under the front rim OF the seat,
and lifting slightly, the large seat is
thrown back on the end OF the box, and
a small seat comes forward, making a
four-seated carriage, plenty large and
comfortable. 1t is certainly a very in
genious invention, and will find rapid
sale. Mr.. Luke has the agency for
them in this city.
In order to supply a long felt want
and make his establishment en-
tirely complete, about year ago
he added an undertaking departmer I,
He is now prepared to furnish funerals
with every requisite, including the fin
est hearse In the city, a beautiful white
hearse for children, large and elegant
assortment OF all styles and kinds OF
wood and metallic burial cases, caskets
and collins, from the plainest ana cheap
est to the most elaborate and costly;
q full stock Of shrouds, gloves, Grape,
ribbon, etc, and hacks, bupgies
and buses at the most reasonable
rates. Combining everything, this de-
partment is the most complete in the
city, and his facilities for giving satisfac.