Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-01-22
LIyINGsTOy's CIRCUS
a Rich and Eccentric New York
ers Strange Performances
Orisiag Through the streets With rwen-
ty-Four in Hsod--A Passion which H~s
E@Aen Complete Possession OF Our
Anefent American Jshu.

FLORENCE Cor. Louisville Courier Journal
Standing In front Of the hotel Washing
tOn one day soon after my arrival Ia this
city, ] saw a strange sight coming. A
rather oldish. but well-pressrved looking
man sat upon the high fore seat Of an open
vehicle driving six hOrsss-a pair next tn 9
wheels and four tandem Behind were
two vehicles, each drawn by SIX horses.
with cOachmen and foOtmen in livery. The
coachmen were dressed in the regulation
English costume, but the footmen wore
green and black short coats, with caps 10
match, and cream colored trousers The
old man in front, with his plug hat and
peculiar face, handled the reins with skill
and spoke occasionally TO his gayly
trapped and bobbed steeds. His mind
seemed % be set upon his work. / said 70
the porter OF the hotel: What is that!
Is il circus?"
The Italian, who spoke English very
well, smiled and said: ut is Mr.. Living
ston, an American"
Or course / concluded that Mr.. Living
ston was some vul yarian who had sudden
ly struck oil. | found ont his full history
soon afterward, and ina ,ine my amaze
ment when | was told that IA was one Of
the distinguished Livingston family OF
New York and man of brilliant educa-
tiOn. speaking several languages fiuently.
But ce is a crank, all the same, and a good
coachman.
It appears that he has been living In
Florence twenty or thirty years. aud he
has kept up this hippodrome or street pro-
Ill his
hobby, and he spends nearly all his sur
plus money on them. They cost him,
twenty -four head, about $4,000 q year.
They soon eat their heads of, and the
sums the old crank has squandered in thie
way is shame He is now sixty-sev
years OF age, and old enough To know bet.
ter. His horses are splendidly groomed
and quartered, and give him no troubl Q,
and he makes an annual contract with the
head coachman, who relieves him OF all
responsibility. On himself be does not
spend thousand dollars year. He
takes his meals at a cheap cafe and takes
his seat in the pit at the theatre.
Formerly he drove as many as twenty
four horses in hand himself. He always
drives himself and sometimes his '1eaders"
would be far around corner and out of
sight before the vehicle got into the turn
He had a runaway picnic few years ago
and was thrown from his perch and his
arm broken. This did not deter him, how
ever, and it was not long before his string
OF steeds took fright again and dashed
through the streets of Florence, scattering
CONSERVATION and destruction as they
went. A cab was utterly demolished and
the driver so badly bruised that he after
wards died at the hospital. The authori-
ties stepped in at this stage of the game
and informed Mr.. Livingston that hence
forth be should not drive more than six
horses in hand through the streets. The
old man was nearly heart broken because
his pet luxury had been so fearfully cur
tailed, but the officials were firm and six
horses are all he can now handle. But he
viii have his stable out and has always
from twelve TO sixteen head following his
coach. This passion or craze seems to
have taken complete possession OF the
old Jshu.
A lew years ago he lost his wife, and
shortly afterward married beautiful
Italian woman with rather soiled repu-
tation. It was not long before the young
bride ran Oft with her step-son, . youth
hardly grown, but the old man kept on
driving his horses. After q round at Paris
and about the guilty coupls returned, and
the old man has so far forgiveh his beapti-
full bride as TO settle an annual sum for
her benefit Now one Of his sons is lying
at the hospital at deaths door. but tho
Old man drives his horses just the same.
Nothing short OF GabriePs silver trump
would stop his I-ancing steeds.