Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-02-25
AN IRISH HORSE FAIR.
The Curious Customs Obtaining at the
Horse Markets Of Ireland.

IOfsc hiaEhCts VI 1fcAbuus
To novice an Irish fair appears ~to
be pandemonium let loose. The main
streetis the show-ground and ride, and
a convenient field, with stone wall OF
two, serves the purposes of the imam
ege.' Such a whooping and yelling
Droves of wild young colts, rough, url-
kempt looking animals, rushing madly
about with Pat riding bare backed as
easy as glove, with nothing but a
''bit of twig' and halter for a
bride. whist! but that's lepper,
yer honor; be aisy now, on her, Tim,n'
shouts the proprietor of some raw filly,
as T i'm negotiates the wall with cock
of his eye. Perhaps you turn round
to look at the ''lepper," and, by the
mercy of Providence, just escape being
trampled to death by whole troop.
Pulled this way, showed that, hot and
thirsty, you at last gain a place of safe
ty, and are able to look on for few
moments in peace. Meanwhile, the
dealers are not idle, and bargains
mingled with glasses of potheen are
flying about in every direction. If you
happen to be in the know you will see
horse bought for thirty pounds sterl-
ing ready cash, which for market pur.
poses was to have been seventy
pounds sterling transaction. Every
conceivable class of animal is here,
both biped and quadruped. The
hunter which, if properly got up, will
fetch in England couple of hundred.
is side by side with screw not worth
as many pence, and the autocrat of the
dealers yard may be seen in confabu-
lation with what looks like a prime
dynamiter; while above all the din and
jangle floats an aroma. of whisky and
tobacco to say nothing of blarney and
bad language.
AS the day wears on prices lower a
little. Indeed, few of the knowing
ones do not complete their bargains
until late, excepting in the eases Of
some really high-class gees. But what
is going on in the corner of the wallp
A small crowd is gathered there, and
from your position you can just make
out one of the men who crossed in the
boat standing opposite a true son OF
Erin in the middle of small ring, and
seemingly either fighting or endeavor.
ing to shake him by the hand-which!
You can not quite make them out
Presently the crowd breaks up with 2
cheer, and you can see plainly now the
two men shake hands, and to your sur.
prise money passes between them.
Can it have been a prize fight at all!
No, it is only deal, and if we come q
little nearer to this new lot that are
forming ring we shall see. AS We
approach a lane is formed, and the
vision of flying colt appears, ridden
bare-backed by bright looking lad
Over the wall is the order, and Pat
steadying his mount, takes it in first
class form. Then the crowd closes in
and two figures stand opposite
each other-England and Ireland
"Well, what's the priceP" say.
England. "It's just the foinest littl'
horse in the fair this day, and III
not be selling him under fl20, an(
that's dirt-chape,' replies Ireland
holding out his hand. Forty" say
England, making dive at the paw
Ireland is too quick, however, anC
snatches it away before England car
grasp it, saying at the same time, will
an air of disdain: Forty! and for ;
baste like that, that the Lord Lieutenan
would be proud to be seen on. Is j
trying to blarney me that you arep II
just let you have it for 9l00afd not
penny less" and out goes 6e han'
again. This time England springs I
tenner, and the same pantomime j
gone through, with the exception tina
England nearly catches the outstret che,
member this time, which raises laugl
and Mind your eye, Pat" from th'
crowd. After every bid this goes on
and at sixty-fve England catches Ire
land by the hand shakes it heartily
thereby signifying that is deal. Th
crowd cheer, and the two 90 off to
gether to cement the bargain with
"dhrop of the cratur." This is tn
way most of the deals are carried on
and it is an unwritten law that if yo
happen to be quick enough to cate
hold of the hand after your offer, th
horse becomes your property for th
amount of your bid.-Scottish Agricull
ural Gazette.