Evening journal., 1888-07-12
JOCKEYS OF MEXICO.
As CUNNING AND AS KNOWING AS
GYPSlES ARE.

..old Nags Revamped aud Brado as Good
as New-Trials OF the American Who
Wanted to Buy "Hoss"-varioua
Tricks.
When good man wants to buy "hoss,"
the wicked encompass him round about, and
he gets no peace until he has acquired, at an
exorbitant price, some specimen OF equine
antiquity The Mexican trader in horses is
as astute as his brother Of Boston, and adds
TO his many accomplishments dIgnified
courtesy and a polished Difference never
found in the American. Some time ago [
made it known to a friend that wanted to
buy horse, and whether that friend went
and informed the world Of Jockeys from the
vantage point Of housetop or not / have
mover found OUT, bnt from that fatal day the
procession Of nag merchants began, and has
been three months passing given point, as
young reporters are fain to remark.
respect age, and when Don Pedro Murci-
aga Alcantara, who Is himself man OF
seventy Aprils, disguised with a wig and false
teeth, comes riding into my patio with horse
which, despite his twenty-five winters, tries
to pass himself or for a child hoss Of six
serve my feeling Of reverence for that which
is venerable Ola agemasquerading as youth
is ridiculous, and it is sad to think Of an aged
horse being tempted into hollow display Of
ljuvenility.
A GAY OLD BUCK
Dom Pedro Murciaga Alcantara, who Is
what Mexicans call q vieio verde, or gay old
buck, invariably dismounts with feigned
agility, stretches his rheumatic legs, and be-
gins in sonorous Spanish discourse on the
merits Of the led horse which he thinks /
ought to buy. "Mny nuevecito,r he remarks,
which may be freely translated pretty little
young fellow look at the nice little young
nag who has had his eyes frightened with
belladonna, his name crimped and dyed. his
tusk teeth carefully filed, his coat vanished
and his hoofs blackened with Mr.. Masons
best Boston blacking and remark, cynically.
"Yes, he was very new twenty years ago.
Does Don Pedro Murciaga Alcantara get
madi Oh, mol He becomes more suave than
before and admits that, possibly, the horse is
eight years old, and adds that he is ''muy
mansito" very gentlel ''aunque ticno brio"
although spirited.l
Can this ancient steed which came over
with Cortes in one Of the ships that that man
Of iron burned at Vera Crus, can this horse
brotF ask "Por supuesto senor,n says the
don, and be takes him out into the street
where, bsfors gods and small boys this relic
Of thu past, known to elderly citizens as
lang syne faithful coach horse, begins a gait
that IA Ne elastic as hemlock board seat on
a gravel cart ''He is cut Of practice. SAYS
my jockey friend, "but you can get him into
II in few weeks a remark al which tho
smaI boys now clustered about us begin to
smile stealthily Then the equine relic is
tried on the gallop, a gait which he has to
perfection, being able to bounce the most ro-
bust rider a foot and half out Of the saddle,
$50 heavily does he come down with his stiff
ened legs.
Don Pedro is dismissed and told not to
show his head again inside the patio till he
can bring really new horse with some life
land genuine gait about him. He dofs his
lsombrero politely, and, with courteous
l'Adlos, senor," this worthy jockey is of
again. A patient race these people: YOU
may be sure that Don Pedro Murciaga Y
Alcantara win come again and again and
never be rebuiled, and even if he never sells
any one OF his collection Of unrivnled anti
quities, be win not be angry, bat viii salute
me gravely when We meet. Such is Spanish
courtesyl
OF A DIFFERENT TYPE.
There is another veteran Jockey Of quite a
different type. This is a large, robust man
of mature years with Ben Franklin smile
and a look Of Sturdy honesty. His role is
that Of the man who has good horses but isn't
a bit anxious to close a bargain, and | must
confess that the tantalizing manner In which
this clever diplomat gives you glimpse of a
good looking steed, and then carries the ami
NAL of into hiding for week, is likely TO
bring the weariest purchaser to the sticking
point. II you admire the horse Of Don
Mariana Fuentes de Carbelada be will inn
medistely take that horse to some equine re-
treat and inform you that you lost your
chance, as some one met him on the street.
and bought him or hand, although you,
with your inexperience, are to be pardoned
for not at oncs discerning the superior points
of the animal In a fortnight, perhaps,
you hear that the man who bought the horse
has died, and that you have another chance
to buy him at o slight advance, for the
widow doesn't wish to sell at the price the
defunct paid for it. You have misgivings
about the entire story, but Don Mariana
will look you out Of countenance if you dare
intimate the slightest ssepticism IN the
matter. / have found that horse trader
can sell You q clOtheshorse and squelch you
with a look il you doubs its ability to clear
five barred gate
Then there is the countryman dodge A
couple Of worthy rancheros, with the hayseed
still adjoining their locks win ride up Of a
morning, having casually "heard that the
senior wanted to buy horsen They have
one which they will sell, tho man for whom
he had been brought to town having moved
away. This horse is described as a second
Bucephalus tanned down. Bucefalo Is brought
forward and ranchero gets on him to show
him of. The animal is rushed down the
street and turned at full pace within tbs
spacs covered by blanket He will do any
thing, this brilliant animal, except turn 8
somersault But something about one Of hii
legs seems suspicious and you don't buy
Your ranchero friends are not bit angeTed
but will happen In again in a week or tive
with Bucefalo second led by a rope.
Then there is the stableman, who tells yoI
that he will charge you a good price, but vii
not condescend 10 cheat you, mo, not 70 th'
extent OF a single centaVo, senor.E Hi
lhorses are shiny and their names are wei
combed out, there is look OF style and swell
dom about these stable kept steeds, but dis
interested friends inform you that such a on
has a swelled leg, though the swelling is no
| .perceptible; that another horse is dosed NJ
into semblance OF spirit, and that anothe
| il only fit for the bull ring.
/, But it is not worth while 10 run over tn
| long procession Of stations and Rozinantes