Morris tribune., 1886-03-03
Grants TIovc i0r Horses.

When lie first entered the White
House as President of The United
States lie owned over q hundred head
of horses, which he kept at his farm
near st. Louis. The foreman of the
stables in which the horses were kept
was Albert Hawkins, who is now
coachman for President Cleveland.
Albert says General Grant was an ex-
cellent Judge Of horsefl2sh. It was q
difficult matter to deceive him in a
horse trade, because nc was familiar
with all the points that are considered
in examining them. He could look in
to horse mouth and tell his exact
age within few months. He always
insisted that his horses should never be
ill-used, either in or out OF the stable.
They were given the best kind of food,
furnished with large comfortable stalls,
and regularly exercised. Any man
who was known to ili-treat or misuse
one of his horses was Immediately dis
missed. Tho General took q fancy to
Albert because he was always kind and
gentle in dealing with the stock under
his charge. After the General became
President he sold many OF his horses
in St. Louis. and directed Albert to
come on to Washington and assume
control of the presidential stables.
The Generals favorlte horses were
Cincinnati, Egypt, and JEFF Davis. The
former was as gentle as lamb, and he
knew and obeyed the General at all
times and under all circumstances.
Cincinnati was good saddle horse, in
addition to being Il tirst-class horse in
harness. The General could ride him
to any point in the city, jump off his
back, and leave him standing unhitch-
ed for any length of time. No matter
how long the General remained away,
when he returned Cincinnati was there
waiting for him. He did not pay any
attention to circus paradcs, and was
not 10 be frightened by noise and con-
fusion on the street. When the Gener-
al directed him to stand and wait for
him, Cincinnati would not bulge till
the General had mounted him. Dur
ing the Generals second term in the
White House arrangements were made
for an equestrian statue representing
General Grant mounted on his favorite
war horse, Cincinnati. Every day for
nearly month. the General would go
down to the stable, have the bridal and
saddle put on Cincinnati, and off he
would go to meet the sculptor. On
several occasions Albert accompanied
him to beautiful spot in the vicinity
of the Soldiers home, where the cast
was made, and General Grant frequent
ly visited the presidential stables, went
into the stalls, and talked to his horses
just as though they were human
beings and were capable of understand
ing every word be said to them. The
JEFF Davis horse was terrible kicker
and bitter, and the stable hands were
afraid to go near his stall. His feed
had to be passed in to him through an
adjoining stall. Tho General, however.
had complete control over him, and he
could enter his stall, handle him as he
desired, and, in fact, do anything he
wanted with him. Old jeff knew his
voice, for as soon as the General enter
ed the stable he would throw back his
ears aud move around rcstlessly in his
stall until the General showed him
some attention. On several occasions
the stable hands tried TO deceive JEFF
by initiating the Generals voice, but as
soon as he discovered the deception he
made his heels play lively tune on
the side of the stall. .-BostoD Herald.