The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-07-07
Our Olio.
A Kentucky Horse Sale-"High Tea
at the Henry Clay Mansion.

If was sudden transition from the
church to Il horse sale.
But very near the door of the church in
Lexington where the South and the North
had been shaking hands in the warmest of
fraternal relationship, stood my friend, Mr..
Ephraim Sayre, and his carriage in waiting,
and without any delay we were being driven
six miles into the country to attend horse
sale. 1t should not be called fair, for the
horses to be sold belong to one man only,
who has raised them and pursues it as his
business. There are many in this part of
Kentucky who follow it successfully.
Each one has his annual sale, and months
in advance he publishes a catalogue, giving
the name, age and pedigree of each horse
that he offers for sale Buyers come from
all parts Of the country, especially from
New York city. The scene is to us novel
and interesting
A circular range of stables encloses
large area; roof projecting into the circle
all around makes shelter from the sun,
and seats are filled with ladies and gentle
men. The round enclosure Of green grass
is perhaps two hundred feet in diameter.
The stables open on the outside of the ring,
and a small window opening in enables the
horses to put their heads out and observe
the sale as it proceeds, and to hear the
prices which their companions bring. The
auctioneer stands on a raised platform,
surrounded by reporters and correspondents
of newspapers from far and near, who are
taking down the price at which each horse
goes, and this is rapidly sent off by mail
and telegraph to distant cities. Mr., Swell
CERT is the owner of the stock now to be
disposed of. They are all yearlings. He
prefers to sell them at that age rather than
to run the risk of keeping them till they
are older, though the price of a colt of
promise rises rapidly. 1t is difficult to eff
feet insurance on horses; they are a pre-
carious property, and | was told that it rs
hard to ascertain with certainty whether
the horse that dies is the one insured, or
another But of that [ know nothing.
The gentlemen who are interested in this
raising and sale of horses are as honorable
and trustworthy men as any in this commu
munity, and some of them never engage in
racing or any speculation with the stock,
confning themselves to the legitimate bus
iness of raising horses for sale
We reached the ground in the midst Of
the sale. Seats were immediately ly provided
for the ladies' We were introduced to
several gentlemen of distinction in Ken
lucky, who were deeply interested in the
horses and the prices, and while the sale
was going on we had time and opportunity
for making pleasant acquaintance.
A yearling colt has not developed into,I
"a thing of beauty He is. not filed out,
but has more good ''points' about him
than he will have when he has more flesh
with a year or two more of age. Yet there
was great variety of form, color and ac-
ton. The printed catalogue told us Of
each one, who was his father and grand
father and so ON, and as Il negro boy led
him in and trotted him around the circle
on the grass, leading him, not riding him,
he was under the fire of critical eyes, and
eyes of good judges of horse flesh. The
buyer must form his opinion of what the
colt will be one, two or three years hence ;
and he will make up his mind from the
family to which the colt belongs, and the
popularity of limb and muscle which he
sees in the embryo trotter and racer before
him. To me there was no great difference
in their build and action, and it is quite
likely that what to me was beautiful ami
NAL had no attraction for a man who cared
nothing for Cooks but knew very well
what was the sign of future speed. And
when the sale was going on of these little
and unhandsome creatures my surprise was
great when three hundred, five hundred,
thousand, two, three, four, and in one case
five thousand dollars and over were bid for |
one, and not the best looking one at that |
Great applause greeted this sale, and it was
felt that all former horse sales were now
outdone, And so it proved. For when
the forty-fve colts were sold at prices vary
ing from $500 to SIS 100, it was found that
the sales amounted to $50 900, or more on
an average than 81 600 for each yearling
Other sales had recently taken place in the
vicinity, and others were held few days
afterwards, notably at the Alexander farm
and stables, but at no sale this season did |
the prices range so high as at Mr.. Swell
gerts..
After the sale was over, instead of bar
becue, such as [ attended at the Alexander
sale, twenty-five years ago, and of which
YOU read, and of course remember the ac-
count gave at the time, we were invited |
no',wto repast of asavory, and, l am told,
a delicious character 1t was not conve-
nient for us to remain, as other hOspitali-
ties awaited us. [ forget the name of the
great dish of this feast 1t is composed of
a stew, that takes in all nice vegetables
and all kinds of game, squirrels, rabbits,
birds, and doubtless lamb and beef; all
boiled together and suitably seasoned, max
ing dainty dish, fit to set before king.
And l have no doubt that for those who
like that kind of thing, this would be the
very kind of thing they like. But we were
called away, and retired from the grounds
greatly indebted to Mr.. and Mrs. Sweigert
for their kind attentions, and to the other
ladies and gentlemen who made our our
visit to the horse sale so agreeable and in
structive.
THE HENRY CLAY MANSION.
Ashland, the residence of Henry Clay,
is sacred ground. After his death it was
for some time occupied by one of his sons.
Then it was sold to religious society, that
used it for an agricultural and manual la
Dor college. Recently it was bought by
Mr. Mcdowell, whose wife is grand
daughter of Henry Clay, and it is now in
the family again. The proprietor is of the
Gov. Mcdowell family of Virginia, and
therefore, on his side and that of Mrs Nc
Dowell, the race is historic. The mansion,
rebuilt some thirty years ago, precisely as
it was in the days of Mr.. Clay, is now the
seat Of generous Kentucky hospitality, and
visitors on pilgrimage or by invitation are
daily entertained.
It was at this elegant mansion that we
had the honor, on Saturday evening, of
assisting at what is here called "High
Tna >, The Elfirst families, of Lexington