The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1889-10-10
WELLINoToN.s HORSE.



Awkward Blandsr He Msds 1t George
VS. Coronation.
Sir William Fraser's words on
Wellington 10 still book talked
about In England. The following in
teresting story refers TO the corona
ton Of George w.:
Two great officers are appointed
for special occasions only, tho Lord
High Constable and Lord High Stew
ard Of the Kingdom. The Duke was
nominated Lord High Constable.
When the Champion enters Westmiu-
stersHall during the banquet he rides
between these two great : officers.
After the customary challenge the
King drinks to the health OF the Cham
pion inn goblet Of gold, which he then
and there presents to him. This be-
Ing done, it Is the duty of the Cham
pion, the Lord High Constable and
the Earl Marshal to rein their horses
backward until their exit at the door
by which they entered from Palace
Yard.
'.Ihe Duke, with his practical good
sense. anticipating the scene of tu-
multuous enthusiasm which was GER
tain to occur, took care to obtain for
the occasion well-trained steed from
the establishment across the river
since known as sAstley's. According
II, an animal Of handsome appearance
and di0n;6ad aa,,,<a,,,,, go. 1890 =
and, a backward movement being I'M
usual to horses, the steed upon whom
so much honor was conferred was
carefully drilled day after day for
some weeks to move in an inverse di-
rection round the circus. In time he
became quite perfect. and equally in
sensible to the efforts made by per.
sons employed to disturb his equan.
unity. No amount of cheering nor
throwing up OF hats nor noises Of any
kind induced the animal to swerve
from his backward path.
The great day arrived. The King
was in his seat; the peers and peer
esses. and every thing that was great
in the kingdomhad found their proper
locality In Westminster Hall, the no
BILE building raised by William Rufus
(for his bedroom). The great doors
were thrown open, and sight which
eclipsed all other sights enchanted
the spectators. The Champion of
England in brilliant armor entered be-
tween his supporters. Nothing could
be more imposing. The hero OF
Waterloo. wearing his coronation
robes, his ducal coronet placed rather
forward on his brow, and bearing in
his right hand the baton OF a Field
Marshal. bestrode with great dignity
his noble steed, duly caparison ed for
the occasion. The sight was lrresisti-
ble.s The peers. peeresses and COM
moners rose to their feet; wild burst
of cheering echoed through the vast
and picturesque roof. What was the
horror of the spectators, what was the
dismay Of the sovereign, and what
must have been the feelings even OF
that iron soul, that had confronted
death in every shape unmoved, when
the intelligent animal which he rode,
assuming that the noise was the pre-
liminary to his turning around, as he
had been trained to do, instantly did
this. and advanced toward the sove-
reign with his head pointing to the
door by which he had entered West
minister Hall. As children say at the
end Of good story, What did they
do thenr Some of those in attend
ance with great difficulty succeeded.
to use a sailors expression, in slew
ing the animal round, and, possibly,
by dint of holding the bride and
caresses, enabled the great Duke to
approach George the Magnificent in a
decorous and dignified manner"
~