The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-13
nrK. BONNER on TRoTTINa HORSES.
A Request to Exhibit Maud $. at the PennsyI-
vaAia Fais Declined.

MIR. BONNIE ON T1sOTTING HORSES.
A Request to Exhibit Maud s. at the PennsyI-
vaAia Fais Declined.
Turf. Field and Farm.
Me- George HI. Stuart president Of the Mer-
chants Bank Of Philadelphia. at the instance Of
several leading citizens Of that city, who are
members Of the Pennsylvania State Agricultural
Society has written to Mr. Bonner asking him
to permit Maud S. to be exhibited at their fair.
Mr. Bonner wrote the following reply, in which
he gives some original and interesting views on
the trotting horse:
OFFIcB OF THE LEDGER
NEW YoBK Sept s. 1884 s
Ny Dear Mr. Stuart--.It would afford me
great pleasure to ohiiGe you personally by com
plying with the REQUEST Of your friends OF the
Pennsylvania State Agricultural Society to send
over Maud S. to be exhibited during the fair,
which opens this week, were ii not that have
already sent her to Charter Oak Park, at Hart
| ford, where. she is to remain for several weeks
under the care of her old trainer and groom, in
order to give her the proper preparation to beat
her own urequaled record Mr Vanderbilt be-
| heves and believe--in fact everyone who
knows the mare believes-that she is capable of
doing this, and have concluded to give her an
opportunity to do so.
You say that during the fair ''there will be no
trotting or racing Of any kind Now, l am as
much opposed to trotting or racing for money as
any one Anything that involves or includes
betting whether it be on the result Of a contest
tween candidates for the presidency, object to.
These have been my lifelong convictions.
have always maintained that a gentleman can
own and drive good horse without being OBJ
| hged to wager money on what the animal can
accomplish But If there is TO be no trotting
--even when disconnected with betting-at the
fair of your State Agricultural Society, do not
see that Maud s. has any business there. She
e0cels all other horses, not in size weight, OF
even IN beauty, although she is very hand
some animal, but in trotting. which it seems
your State society excludes from its exhibitions
Surely there can be nothing wreng in permitting
| an animal like Maud 5. to display her natural
powers, SO long as she is not used for gambling
| purposes. once put the following question to
I your friend and my friend, DIR. McKosh: What
did the Almighty endew swift tFotting horses
with extraordinary speed for, if II was wrong to
let them indulge in their natu-
raj gaitf Did He ever make any
thing for the use Of man Of which man
is bound to use a mean specimen when he can
honestly afford to use good eneW If so. added,
then all you clergymen ought to be confined to
broken down. spawned and foundefed horses.
The great metaph ysician, with a smile replied:
Those are questions for theologians like DR..
Hodge, the Doctor happening to be standing by
his side.
Agricultural societies very properly offer
premiums, to the farmer who raises the largest
pumpkins the best turnips and potatoes, the
best hogs, the finest cattle, etc Why may
they not just properly offer similar premium
rs virtually wagering meney--to farmers who
raise the swiftest trottng horses9 1t is said that
the man who makes two blades Of grass grow
where only one formerly grew is benefacter of
his race Let me give an illustration in this
line: According to the time table it takes forty
eight minutes for the Sixth-avenue ears to run
IRON the Aston House to the Central Park. the
end of their route. Now, a breed of trottfng
horses can be raised and with very little extra
expense, teaceomplish that distance in thirty-fve
minutes, with more ease and less distress to
themselves than it now takes ordinary horses to
do the same distance in forty eight minutes This
I opinion | expressed one day when he was at my
stable, to that broad minded gentleman Mr..
Garrett, the president Of the Baltimore ~ Ohio
railroad who owns large number Of purely
L bred Arab horses. He not merely eoincided In
Il this view, but made the significant remark: 1T
is easy for bird TO fly, but just as natural for
an Ok to walk
/ have been thus particular in answering your
note because your name has been prominently
| before the public as chairman Of the Christian
Commission, and in connection with reforms in
church psalmody, etc. am also, In quiet way,
aiming for reform in another direction Il was
DIR. Chalmers believe, who, in discussing the
question of church music, said that he did not
see why the devil should have all the best tunes;
and another distinguished Clergyman, in referr-
ing to the location of churches and the theaters
en- prominent streets. with much emphasis OBJ
jeeted to the devil having all the best sites. Now
why should either the devil or the gamblers have
all the best hefSes2 Isn't there am opportunity
for reform here, tool Regretting my Inability
for the reasons which have given, to comply
with your polite request, am, very truly yours,
K RoRERT BONNER