Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-05-21
THE PRESIDENTS HORSES.
A REPORTERS VI SIT TO THE WHITE
HOUSE STABLES.
How they ARE Situated AMI What
they COntain-Miss NeIIie's Indian
POnY--HOrses of Former PFesi dents.

seventeenth street, says the Washing
ton Star, are the White Hoy'f stables.
The building Is a two-story press brick,
forming three sides Of a square. 1t is
set back little way from the street, and
the stable yard and drive way arc paved
with asphalt clear 10 the side walk.
The building is reached through an iron
gate from the street private telephone
wire runs from the office Of the Presi-
dents secretary 10 the stables, so that
carriage can be summoned in a very few
minutes There is nothing remarkable
about these stables In fact there are
scores Of private stables in the West End
far handsomcr, more convenient. and
healthier. A deep cellar extends
beneath the stable portion. and the
moisture soaking through its walls is
apt TO make it unhealthy for the
horses. The only interest attached to
the stables arises from the simple fact
that they are the Presidents stables. De
string to know. something about their
contents, and knowing the antipathy of
the stable employees TO reporters the Star
man Sought the kind services Of Colonel
VII Crook, the executive clerk, and
was accompanied by him the other morn
ing through the stables The central
part Of the building in which the horses
are stabbed has stood as it now Is. tor
many years, but the wings were extended
a couple OF years ago to make more car
riage room, as President Arthur needs
more than former Presidents The north
half of the stable PROPER is devoted to
the Presidents private horses. There
are three large box stalls on one side, and
six stalls on the other. The Presidents
riding horse is the occupant OF one of the
box stalls. He is sorrel gelding, seven
years old, ana about sixteen hands high
There is nothing remarkable about this
animal. He is simply good looking,
easy riding horse, his principal gaits
being pace and canteT. The President
frequently takes n ride on summer even
ings. He is "A fair rider, and is fond of
the exercise. He has four carriage horses,
two in the box stalls and two in the
stalls on the other side. They
are al BAYS about sixteen hands high.
They are very stylish, and are groomed
to perfection, and either pair hitched to
any one of the handsome carriages, with
Albert on the box, make very striking
turnout. Occasionally they are driven
four-in-hand. Two other stalls are oc-
cupied by Allan Arthur's buggy team,
one Hambletonian gelding and the
other Black Hawk mare. They are
driven great deal, either single or
double, by their owner when he is at
home, but while he is at college they re-
,ceiye only the necessary exercise Allan
Arthur is very daring rider. He not
only knows how to ride well but has
plenty of nerve, and it takes a good
horse to get the better of him.
In one of the remaining stalls stands
the little Indian pony which the Presi-
dent brought back from his trip to the
Yellowstone country last year. He has
not yet made his debut, but is receiving
a course of training at the hands of
Albert on the White Lot drive. When
by psTience and careful training he be-
comes perfectly docile he will be driven
by the Presidents daughter Nellie to a
dog cart. He is cute little thing, with
reached name and banged tail His color
is what is termed in the Westas painted"
or calico, and what the children call
circus" irregularly marked with white
and brown in about equal proportions
He was presented to the President last
summer by Sharpnose, an Arrapahoe
chief.
The south side of the stable is devoted
to the office horses six in number. The
pair of clipped sorrels usually driven IN
the secTetary's carriage are very good
travellers
y great many people think, said
Colonel Crook, THAT the expense of
keeping the Presidents horses are borne
bv the government Such Is not the
case. The government keeps up the of
fee stable, of course, but all those horses
in the north side are the Presidents own
property, and their keeping is paid for
by him. They are practically two dis
tinct stables When Albert needs feed
he buys it from private firm, while the
feed for the office horses comes from the
-uuartermaster's department
General Grant had very fine horses
when nc was President, continued Col
onel Crook, and it was very seldom
that he was passed on the road He
was a splendid driver Hayes had only
four horseS-a pair of grays, and pair
of bays. Garfield had very nice turn
outs. He had one pair of bays and
gray and q black. The latter were used
mostly for saddle horses, and the boys
Sed to ride them a great deal. y
The south wing of the stables is used
FOR the Presidents carriage. and in the
second story live the watchman and his
family. The President has three car
riages. landau, victoria and a brough-