Morning journal and courier., 1883-09-24
The Blue Grass Country.

A Visit to the Region Where Fast Horses
 Come FrOm-GenerAl Wither's Stock Farm and Stables-The Results of Scf-
 entiAc Breeding in Fast Time and
 High Prices.
 w. H. Bishop in Harpsr,s Magazine for October
 The blue grass country is reached by tra- versing central Virginia and Kentucky along the line of the picturesque Chesapeake and Ohio railway, unlesss, indeed, one prefers the swift and solid Pennsylvania route to Cincinnati, and drops down to it from the north. On this particular journey, at any rate, it was reached past the battle-fields and springs of Virginia, and up and down the long slopes of the Blue Ridge and gorges of the Gresnbrier and Kanawha, in the wilder Allsghenies. It is found to be little cluster of peculiarly favored counties in the center of the State. Marked out on the map, it is like the kernel, of which Kentucky is the nut or like one of those 'poekets'' of pre- cious metals happened upon by miners in their researches. The soil is of a rich fertil. ity, the surface charmingly undulating. Poverty seems abolished. On every hand are evidences of thrift corresponding with the genial bounty of nature. A leading crop in times past has been hemp, and land that will grow hemp will grow anything. This is be- ing more and more withdrawn in favor of stock-raising exclusively, but the tall stacks of hemp, in shape like Zulu wigwams, still plentifulIy dot the landscape.
 One drops into horse talk immediately on alighting from the train at Lexington, and does not emerge from it again until he takes his departure. It is the one subject always in order. Each successive proprietor, as he tucks you into his wagon, if you will go with him-and if you will go with him there is no limit to the courtesy he will show you-de- clares that now, after having seen animals more or less well in their way, he proposes to show you horse. Fortunately there are many kinds of perfection. He may have the best horse or colt of certain age, the one which has made the best single heat, or fourth heat, or quarter of a mile, or average at all distances or the best stallion or brood mare or the one which has done some of these things at private if not public trials Each one has, at any rate, the colt which is going to be the great horse of the world. This is an amiable vanity easily pardoned, and the enthusiasm is rather catching. A mans stock is greatly to his credit and stand ing in this section while he lives, and when he dies is printed prominently among the list of his virtues.
 General William T. Withers' ''Fairlawn" is just at the edge of Lexington. It is com fine shade trees of the natural woods of Ken lucky. It is approached up an avenue through patent self acting gate. Around 1t are scattered numerous barns, stables and other out-buildings. The land i93ivided into various paddocks and pastures, m which the reddish spots of feeding colts are scattered about, by stretches of excellent white fence. A fence here, according to 8 saying of the section, must be thule high, bull-strong and pig-tight." This place has but 240 aores but the brood-mares are kept on another farm of 800 acres, elsewhere. At one side of the grounds is 8 commodious training track, laid out like one of those mythical fairy circles on which the spinning of rapid feet weaves spells of enchantment and pros perity It is visible from the library win dow, and the general may stand there, even with the curtains closed, and see the per- forrnances of his horses, and act as check on any negligent practices of his grooms.
 The host seats us in this comfortable libra ry and explains to us his theories and shows us his books of record Every birth, every pedigree Is accurately entered. It is busi- ness, as thus conducted, which calls for g high order of intelligence. Horse-breeding, as at one time conducted, was but an inno- cent form of gambling. The processes were hap-hRzard and the result of ignorance. Again, much money was lost through the choice of inferior stock. Of late the theory prevails that the very beat is not too expen- siYe; 8 great deal of valuable certainty has been deduced from the collective wisdom of the past, and, as rule, money is made in stead of lost.
 The library cases are lined with books on the horse the walls with those of the house generally, and indeed of the bluegrass re- zion thronghout, are hung with his pictures. Over the door is the historic Rysdyk's Ham, bIetonian, Roman-nosed, hollow-backed, and far from 8 model of good looks, upon field of plain grass and sky.
 General Withers' principal stable is kind of horse cathedral This is by no means common. Many fine animal, almost as much the pride and pet of it's owners family as if they were of Arab stock, Is led out from but shabby quarters. The stables of the region are clean and wholesome, but do not incline to fantastic eleganees Of adorn- ment such as are growing in favor among ourselves in the northern cities Here the light strikes down upon us through cclored glass windows; the whole interior is faced up with hard woods, and the floor of the principal aisle, or nave, strewn with soft straw for exhibiting the paees of the animals upon, could not be heater if it were that of The main" dimension is 155 The stalls are toward sixteen feet square. egress in case of fire, and these are never in the way of stable fittings is used, wooden racks and managers being preferred. Wide open spaces over the partitions and transom ventilators carry of all odors. The clean hay is piled in mounds above, and the corn aud oats slide down by traps into convenient bins Then there is place for sulkies and road wagons, harness room and harness
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