Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-21

From the New York Tribune
All lovers of horses know of the stables of
Robert Bonner at his farm near Tarrytown. One
bright, cool morning recently, Tribune repor-
ter started with Mr. Bonner for a trip to the
farm 1t was still early morning when the
train stopped at Tarrytown A carriage awaited
MI Bonner at the station and in it the reporter
and the editor of the Leiger were soon speed
ing over the hard, well-kept road The rolling,
Weli-W0oded country was sea of gold and
crimson, through which rose here and there the
oattlemented towers of modern castles. Occa-
sioIay an opening in the gorgeous trees showed
aQueen Anne cottage perched on an eminence, or
some old Dutch farmhouse nestled in quiet
valley and surrounded by brown fields from
which the harvests had long since been gathered.
All this told OF the season when the frost is in
the pumpkin. and the corn is in the shock"
As the feet of the fleet horses beat lively
music on the compact road and the pure air of
the chilly morning sent the blood tingling
through the veins. Mr.. Bonner cOnversed about
his horses. This" said he indicating one of
the chestnut geldiIgs which drew the carriage
lis Grafton, who has trOtted in 2:l515 The
other is Walton, who has made 2:24 See how
trotting horses have improved. When l first
began driving, Flora Temple was the only ami
NAL on the turf that could make that time In
a great horse. Now he is regarded as of no ac-
count
Glow did it happen that you began to get to-
gether such a magnificent collection of animals,
Mr.. Bonner"
well, about twenty-five years ago was in
very poor health-al run down. My physician
told me to get horse and try driving l did so:
and have been most enthusiastic lover OF the
exercise ever since. | never bet horse
race or allow my horses to trot for money
hat no
time made by my horses since they have been i'm
my possession is not technical record, that
being only obtained when horse trots i'm pub
lie for money. l set out to prove that man
can own and drive fast horses without making
a gambler of himself. Mr.. Beecher said to me
once: Mr. Bonner, as long as you don't bet,
your position is as firm as the everlasting
hills"
By this time the valley of the Sawmlll river
had been passed, and the white buildings and
green fields of Mr.. BOnners farm were in sight
browning steep hill to the nOrthward The
bright green of the fields on the farm was In
marked contrast with the brown OF the surround
ing ones. This Mr.. Bonner ascribes to the liberal
use of ashes and other fertilizers. 81 raise very
little except hay on my farm" said he, '.and am
able, by the liberal use of fertilizers to get
nearly three times as much to the acre as my
neghbOrs do"
There was an eXhilaration In that ride amid
the glores OF the autumn. in the crisp, clear air
of the morning, behind those two fleet horses,
and the reporter was sorry when the farm gate
was reached. The farm, as stated above is on
the crest of a hill. 1t is about three miles east
OF IarrytOwn, and commands fine view of all
that region from Sleepy Hollow in which the
spirit of Irving yet fingers to where. away to
the southeast. break in the hills shows the
blue waters of the sound. The summit of the
eminence is a small plateau and here Mr.. Bon
ner has his track, three-quarters Of a mile in
length. The farm is on the divide" and the
water that falls on the back part of the track
flows into the sound and that which falls On the
hOmestretch finds its way to the Hudson. The
drainage OF the course is excellent and it is al
ways kept in good condition for trials of speed
neat little farmhouse stands by the gate and
near 1t is the carrlage-hOuse. Beyond toward the
course. lie two large buildings shaped like the
letter L.. These are the stables where the trOt-
tiers are kept. On the left Of the driveway, lead
ing up to the track, is large barn. AS Mr.
Bonner and the reporter were whired around
the course Mr.. Onner pointed out some OF his
horses that were roaming about the fields.
There" said he, pointing to detected look
Ing animal which stood with dropping head in
the lee of the barn. ''that is Flatbush Maid
She Is thirty years old and not ready to die yet
by any means. But all her trfumphs are over,
poor old mare. In May, 1862, Flatbush Maid
trotted with Lady Palmer at the fashion course
two miles in SOL n" The mare, as if she knew
that her record was being canvassed, kicked up
her heels and went scampering over the field.
tour of the stables was now made All
along the front OF the buildings are sliding DOORS
and each door opens into rOomy compartment
each horse having one Of these to himself
This" said Mr.. Bonner, as groom rolled back
one of the doors, sis Daisy Darling. She has
trotted in 219 to a sulky." The next animal
visited was Mamie B. There" said her owner,
this is probably tie fastest mare OF her size in
the world. She has trotted a quarter in SO
seconds, and would beat the record if she
could hold out; but you see she is not
large enough. She has too much speed for
her small body. But see the muscles of those
TANKS. Here are the driving wheels See how
finely formed. yet how strong, they are, and
how steep the slope is from the crown Of her hip
down to her tall She did. indeed, seem an
animal built for great speed and the only pity
was that there wasn't more of her. Mamie B.
first saw the light in 1863 and is therefore four
teen years old. She is in excellent condition,
and age has not yet stolen the vigOr form her
limbs. Erie, the first four ear-OId that ever
trOtted In 22S15, is stabbed next to Mamie b.
He has trOtted in 2:21 ON Mr.. Bonners track In
one OF the compartments was brown mare
that looked around inquiringiy as the door was
slid back ''Ths is Manetta, said Mr.. Bonner
''She has made the fastest two miles with run
ming mate ever made, having trotted that dis
tance in 4:27a."
This remarkable feat was accomplished on
Saturday, November II, Manetta being hitched
to road wagon, with Longman as running
mate. The trial was on Mr. Bonner's track
The first mile was made in 2:1415, and the
second in 2:12$l.
Nuthourna rrov cfollion with rooor5 &c