Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-07-11
JOCKEYS OF MEXICO.
AS CUNNING AND AS KNOWING AS GYPSIES ARE.

GYFSiES NRE. Old Nags Revamped and Made as Good as New-Trials of the American whi Wanted to Buy "Hoss"-varioui | Tricks. When good man wants to buy "hoss,' | the wicked encompass him round about, ana l he gets no peace until he has acquired, at al exorbitant price, some specimen of equine | antiquity. The Mexican trader in horses i, as astute as his brother of Boston, and add, | to his many accomplishments q dlgnified courtesy and polished deference never found in the American. Some time ago made it known to friend that wanted te buy a horse, and whether that friend went and informed the world of jockeys from tho vantage point of housetop or not 1 have never found out, but from that fatal day the procession of nag merchants began, and ha. been three months passing given point, 0: young reporters are fain to remark. respect age, and when Don Pedro Murc aga Alcantara, who is himself man of seventy Aprils, disguised with wig and false teeth comes riding into my patio with horse which, despite his twenty-five winters, tries to pass himself off for q child hoss of six summers, I am somewhat strained to pre- serve my feeling of reverence for that which is venerable. Old age masquerading as youth is ridiculous and it is sad to think of an aged horse being tempted into hollow display of juvenility.
 GAY OLD BUCK.
 Dom Pedro Murciaga y Alcantara, who is what Mexicans call a viejo 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. 'Muy nuevecito," he remarks, which may be freely translated ''pretty little young fellow" look at the nice little young nag who has had his eyes brightened with belladonna, bis mane crimped and dyed, his tusk teeth carefully filed, his coat varnished and his hoofs blackened with NIT. Mason's best Boston blacking, and remark, cynically, "Yes, he was very new twenty years ago" Does Don Pedro Murciaga y Alcantara get mad2 Oh, no! He becomes more suave than before and admits that, possibly, the horse is eight years old and adds that he is ''muy mansito" (vary gentle) "aunque tiene brio" talthough spirited)
 "Can this ancient steed which came over with Cortez in one of the ships that that man of iron burned at Vera Crnz, can this horse trot?" ask. "Por supuesto, senor," says tho don, and he takes him out into the streea where, before gods and small boys, this relic of the past known to elderly citizens as a lang syne faithful coach horse begins gait that is as elastic as hemlOck board seat on gravel cart. ''He is out of practice" says my jockey friend, but you can get him into 1t in few weeks," remark at which the small boys clustered about us begin to smile stealthily. Then the equine relic is tried on the gallop, q gait which he has to perfection, being able to bounce the most TO bust rider a foot and half out of the saddle, heaa aN~l1N ha dow wifi h 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 and genuine gait about him. He dotrs his sombrero politely, and, with a courteous "AdIos, senor," this worthy jockey is of again. patient race these people; you may be sure that Don Pedro Murciaga y Alcantara will come again and again and never be rebutfed, and even if he never sells any one of his collection of unrivaled anti quities, he will not be angry, but will salute mo gravely when we meet. Such is Spanish courtesy
 OF A DIFFERENT TYPE.
 ! There is another veteran jockey of quite Q different type. This is a large, robust man of mature years with Ben Franklin smile and look of sturdy honesty. His role is that of the man who has good horses but isn't
 
 confess that the tantalizing manner in which this clever diplomat gives you glimpse of a good looking steed, and then carries the ami nal off into hiding for a week, is likely to bring the weariest purchaser to the sticking point. If you admire the horse of Don Mariana Fuentes de Carbellada he will i'm medately 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 off hand, although you, with your ineNperience, are to be pardoned for not at once discerning the superior points of the animal" In fortnight, perhaps, you hear that the man who bought the horse has died and that you have another chance to buy him at q slight advance, for the widow doesn't wish to sell at the price the defunct paid for it. You have msSivings about the entire story, but Don Mariana will look you out of countenance if you dare intimate the slightest skepticiSm in the matter. 1 have found that horse trader can sell you q clotheshorse and sQuelch you with look if you doubt its ability to clear a five barred gate.
 Then there is the countryman dodge A couple of worthy rancheros, with the hayseed still adorning their locks, will ride up of 8 morning, having casually "heard that the senor wanted to buy q horse" They have one which they will sell, the man for whom he had been brought to town having moved away This horse is described as a second Bucepnalus tanned down. Bucefalo is brought forward and ranchero gets on him to show him off. The animal is rushed down the street and turned at full pace within the space covered by a blanket. He will do any thing, this brilliant animal, except turn somersault. But something about one of his legs seems suspicious and you don't buy Your ranchero friends are not bit angered but will happen in again in z week or two with Bucefalo second led by a rope
 Then there is the stableman, who tells yor that he will charge you good price, but vii not condescend to cheat you, mo, not to the extent of q single centavo, senor." Hi horses are shiny and their names are wei combed out, there is a look of style and swell dom about these stable kept steeds, but dis interested friends inform you that such oul has swelcd leg, though the swelling is no