Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-04-14
m rnE SADDLE.

VACH1NUlO lie Css
IN THE SADDLE.
Preminsnt People who Enjoy Hsrse.
back Riding.
| xN or LETTERS WHO ARE BRIDLl-PATH CON-
PAuoNs-TER uA8fNHr ON 1oas1BAox-wnY TH1
PRESIDENT DOES NOT RIpR-pARINe tADf-RfDKRS-
COL soNArARrB AND ms wfrA
Two striking figures have become familiar to
people along the fashionable part Of Rhode Island
avenue and out 18th street They are always on
horseback, sweeping along at a brisk tfot or
canter, and whisling around corners with reck-
| less grace. The one Is Q man of striking appear
ance, In high military boots and with the strong
| lace OF soldier. His heavy shoulders bend for
| ward In an un-American fashion for riding,
put his streng limbs and the bold carriage OF his
head attest that he would be an erect figure dis
| mounted, and when his horse comes to q stand he
| sits his saddle as erect as q statue. His large
round head Is set firmly, and his heavy black
moustache, brushed straight out on either side
France, and black goatee drawn down and waxed
| IN Inc same style, give him q nerce expression,
HIs mount is blood bay ' Of large build.
Mnlcn carries him always at a sweeping trot The
companion who gallops on smaller animal at his
iron-gray hair, and features that always attract
attention. She is daring rider as well as good
one ana she often presses her horse to o more
reckless pace than Is his won't
sometimes they are accompanied by young
girl, apparently their daughter. Nearly every day
IN tne winter, when less enthusiastic horsemen
restricted their equestrian exercises to the tan.
bark quadrangle OF the riding academy, these two
inc w5n hs
striking resemblance to Louis Bonaparte,
Napoleon III. marks him at once for one OF that
stock. They are Colonel jerome Bonaparte and
Madame BOnaparte. 1t is Madame Bonaparte's
love 81 TINS exercise that swings her husband 50
gives ner youthful color that disputes the ac-
cusation OF her gray hair. The colOnel's hair is
thg VIII gray. Every one at all familiar with
tne portrait OF the last emperor OF France Is struck
with the resemblance between the two faces Col.
Bonaparte rides better horse, but he Is not as
graceful rider as his wife.
POPULARITY OF HORSEBACK RIDING.
For q long time Mr.. Bancroft and the family of
Mr.. Bayard were about the only constant riders in
washington, among people who are anyways wen
known,
Now 1t is utterly questionable not to ride and
not know how to ride are learning as fast as they
can Probably fifty equestrians are seen In WASH
lhgton this spring where there was one five years
ago. A woman on horseback was one Of the rarest
sights in the Capital few years ago. Now many
may be seen making for the country roads at
swift trot early every morning, OF an afternoon.
Most of them ride the good English trotters, a
morse 1t takes some courage for woman to mount,
anu they ride them with rearlessness and grace
that Is astonishing.
TWO MEN OF LETTERS.
Mr.. Bancroft, the white-haired historian, stiu
sticks to the saddle, and with his feet in the STIR
rups he seems a young man. He and Librarian
Spofford, the two men Of books, generally 90 rid
Ing together They affect the same style OF riding
ana they are picturesque pair jogging along side
by side In gentle dog trot. The historian rides
large blooded animal, which has been favorite OF
ms ior some years and Mr.. Spofford's horse is
neaVy raw boned beast with more durability than
beauty. When riding alone Mir. Spofford gives q
loose rein to his horse ndlOpes along the street in
apparent forgetrulness OF where he is He often
drives his horse to q Dayton. He then reads q
DOCK or the morning papers, giving The horse his
head 20 60 as he likes, only occasionally giving
these two gentlemen are riding together they
never permit their horses to break from dog trot
and each rider carries his right hand behind him.
resting at the small OF his back.
STAR man met them last Sunday, jogging along
n tnls way with the groom in livery, with q
distance behind Mr. Bancroft looked about as he
did In the same attitude ten years ago. He looked
ike Father Time with his snow white beard then,
younger man and there is more black than white
In his long hair and scattering beard.
CABINET RIDERS.
Nearly every member Of the cabinet rides. At.
torney General Garland believe, is the only ex-
ception. Secretary Whitney has some OF the finest
horses in the city, and is q constant rider Mrs
Whitney Is an excellent rider also, and keeps a
beautiful blOoded saddIe-mare at the riding acad-
and perhaps also Mr.. Greger, OF the Russian lepa.
ton, are responsible for'the habit becoming sud
denly 50 popular here. Mrs. Whitney is a fearless
horses She has several young ladies who ride
with her Her husband usually rides alone.
Messrs. Bayard and Lamar used TO ride much
when they in the senate and they stil kept it
up after they entered Mr. Clevelands council MIR.
Bayard's horses have ancestors and they are IA
mlllar with the most Intricate bride paths
through the woods and over the hills. sometimes
In the morning and again in the evening Secretary
fresh air and exercise. He is rider of the old
school, who knows what horse can do, and often
tests his mettle without over doing 1t. All his
There was nothing fancy or proud in Mr., La.
mars mount. He was often tOked about sitting
astride the most looking beast in the
Cabinet stables. Since he has gone on the Supreme
Bench he has practically given up equestrianism
and drives about In an oid-stye barouche on high
springs and open on both sides, driven by an old
time colored man In old-time livery and drawn by |
two sleepy horses
SECRETARY FAIRCHILD
is most persistent OF riders He rides every day.
usually In company with Secretary Bayard, and |
there Is not a bride path through the woods for
miles around that he has not explored. Like Mr..
Bayard he rides trot, only with more OF the En-
glish style. secretary Endlcott is a deliberafe
ana d1gnined rider Miss Endicott is most ardent
deyotee to the sport. She is member or the
riding academy and goes out often twice o day |
she never misses ride in the morning. Secretary
Villas Is not very enthusiastic lover OF equestrian
sport
WHY THE PRESIDENT DECLINES |
AL Mr.. Cleveland's Cabinet have not been able |
to get him In the saddle. He may follow their adj |
vice In matters OF state sometimes, but in this |
matter he follows his own fears He is not afraid |
OF the horse so much as OF the nOtOrlety OF appear
Ing In public In the attitude OF Jockey and be-
Sides he Is said 10 have an odd notion that there
would be something comcal In his figure on horse
back. He Is a member OF the Washington Riding
Academy, and saddle-horse is kept there for hin
put the nearest ne has come to a mount yet was
to stand OF apd look at the new building Mrs
Cleveland, 1t IS said is very anxious to ride. espe
cially as Mrs. Whitney, Miss Bayard, and Miss IN.
dicott talk horse to her much telling OF the de-
lightfu sport they enjoy, but she is restrained by
the fear OF notoriety. She is not at all afraid OF
horses and Is very good driver.
FEARLESS RIDER
Probably the most fearless rider in Washington
Is Miss French, the daughter OF Representative
French, Of Connecticut. She sits her saddle with
grace and composure and has no fear.
Miss Fox, the daughter OF the real estate dealer.
Miss Bliss, Mr.. Bancroft's granddaughter and his
daughter, Mrs Carroll the wife OF Representative
Letter, Miss Quay, Miss Kempt, Miss Campbell
Miss Rosebud Bradford, Miss Minnie Freeman.
Miss Madill, Miss Mitchell, daughter OF the OREGON
Senator and her sister, Mrs. Handy, and fifty
other young ladies OF Washington society ride
horseback with considerable skill. Most of the
foreign ministers and attaches are horsemen and
members OF the riding academy here. The best
horseman OF them all, except Mr.. Greger, Is said
To be Dr. Vow, OF the Chinese legation.
CONGRESSIONAL HoRsEMEN.
Representative Cannon, OF Illinois, Is Constant