The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-03-03
LIFE At Thu >' 'TAL.
How the Craze for HorSemanshh &.
Washington has Brought out
Prominent Riders.
Cabinet Ofhcers, Statesmen and
Society People are Pursu-
ing the Fad.
Nearly All OF the Prominent People Ride
Daily-A lew of the Best
Iiorscmcn.

cepiionally fine for horsemen, There has
hardly been day when they could not ride
out TO take their dAily constitutional on
smoothshod horses. As Heury Cabot
Lodge. one of the most enthusiastic horse
men at the capital. said the other day. il
has been an "all winter October" Fox
hunting, if il had been fashionable in win
Ter months. might have been pursued Just
AS well as during the autumn; for the
fields are rs green and the roads are in as
good condition as ever.
Three years ago there WAS hardly a score
of horsemen in Washington. now the fad
has ran To such q length that there are per-
haps as many as five hundred thoroughbred
riding horses that are used for nothing but
the pigskin. The craze for horsemanship
came in with the Cleveland administration.
Secretary Whitney who is an exceptionally
fine horseman kept quite stable of thor
oughbreds, and Mr.. Greger. of the Russian
legation, made IL fashionable 10 attend the
cross-country fox hunt which usually wound
up with a dinner or a luncheon at the Whit
ney country sent. Grassland. Nearly all Of
the members of the Cleveland cabinet were
fine riders although they did not join in the
fashionable fox hunt. Mr.. Cleveland never
trusted himself 10 the pigskin and il was
owing to his opposition and positive objec-
tion that Mrs. Cleveland was never seen in
riding habit in full course after the hounds.
The present administration contains sew
eral good horsemen. General Harrison
himself rides now and then on his large
rangy shiny bay horse, which he bought
before coming to Washington last year.
MIR. Blaine does not ride, taking his out
door exercise mainly by walking or riding
with Mrs. Blaine in his pretty little landau.
General Tracy, now and then. Is seen riding
in very stately old-fashioned way on a
superb thoroughbred, which he brought
from his New York farm 10 Washington.
Occasionally Postmaster-General Wana-
maker is seen riding beautiful, iieet,
mouse colored mare, and Secretary Noble
is quite often out on fine bay. Uncle
Jerry Rusk, however. of the agricultural
department, is the horseman of the admin
istrGtion; be rides tall, longlegged sorrel
and makes very fine appearance with his
long snowy beard aud his piercing
black eyes, running and Looping about in the
country roads surrounding the capital. He
Is born horseman and looks like soldier
in battle. lie says there il nothing that
helps his good health so much ms his daily
canter out in the open air. Attorney Cen
eTal Miller seems never to have time to take
horseback ride, and Secretary Proctor
seems not 10 have the inclination. The lat
ter brought with him from Vermont very
fine pair of mahogany bay horses. that
would either of them 20 nicely under the
saddle, but he prefers 10 keep them in har-
ness. Col. Halford now and then rides the
presidents horse.
Around Washington is one of the most de-
lichtful and picturesque park regions TO be
found in this country. IL resembles very
much the interior scenery of England. being
diversified by groves Of large old trees
and broken up by streams that come
tuinbling down over the rocks through val
leys that abound in hiding places for real
wild foxes. No better country could be
thought of for cross-country riding, its
roads are the old-fashioned sort often hard
ly wide enough for two teams to pass and
cut out of the flaming red clay. In some
places there are long and thin tracts Of
woodland crossed only by bride paths and
alfording splendid retreats for the fox.
Through these woods the chase becomes
very exciting and the dogs and horses enter
heartily into the sport. IL takes a good
horseman to thread these thickets and pre-
cipitous rocky dehles. SO there is some
honor IN taking the brush at a Washington
fox hunt. few years ago in order 20 pre-
serve fit hunting grounds. the young horse
men of the capital banded together 10 buy
suburban tract Of ground which was es-
pecially beautiful in its forestsand uplands.
just as they were about to make the pur-
chase, however. the gentleman who was
chairman Of the committee having the mat
ter in charge, was thrown from his horse
and broke his leg. BY the time lie had
recovered the price of the property had
trebled and the mntter WIS given up.
During Lent the horsemen are promising
themselves great many delightful events.
A series of hunts will be followed which
will be equal to anything hitherto enjoyed,
One of the foremost spirits in all this eques
trian sport is the young congressman from
Massachusetts,, Henry Cabot Lodge, who
rides like centaur. His handsome athletic
figure looks superb on horseback, and he
rides in most spirited way. He took the
brush in one of the most exciting chases
two wears ago, and had hardly time 10 allow
the blue ribbon 20 be pinned upon his lap
Il before he was arrested by the sergeant
alarms under n call of the hous, and
obliged TO retire from the field. Almost as
enthusiastic a. Mr.. Lodge is the Hon,
Thomas M. Bayne, the Pittsburgh congress
man, who loves horse as he does his duty.
He has a fine stable and may be seen ont
any afternoon after the adjournment of the
house, either driving or riding. He is a su-
perb horseman, sitting his animal fairly
and as il he was part of him. never fenr-
ing the highest fence nor the broadest
ditch. Congressman Hit, of Illinois, also
keeps fine stable. having seven superb
thorouQhbreds fitted mainly 10 his own
taste and notions of riding, and at the same
time suited also 10 Mrs. Hit who is one Of
the most dashing and fearless OF the lady
riders at the capital.
Senator Spooner and his wife are daily
riders. Two years ago Senator Spooner
sent 10 Kentucky by Joe Blackburn and
bought n fine black riding horse for himself
and few weeks later obtained another for
Mrs. SpoOner. The two have been enthusi-
astic riders ever since their marriage twenty
years ago, and they are used 10 the rough
riding in the hilly, picturesque country OF
northern Wisconsin. They make long de
tours out over the Maryland hills and
ncross the Potomac over into virginia.
The senator, who Is noted for his mental
rather than his physical stature, looks well
OF d horse, us Napoleon did.
Senator Blackburn and Senator Beck, who
come from the land of thorouehbreds, are
both good riders They keep fine horses
brought from Kentucky, and exercise them
daily. Blackburn il tine looking man on
a horse and a most enthusiastic lover OF the
sport. Senator Beck. since his Ill health,
has not been out ms much as he formerly
was. Librarian Spoford used 20 he seen
riding bis big. lonp-legged gray horse with
his market basket on his arm almost every
morning. II has been some time since he
and Historian Bancroft have made their
rides together, Mr.. Bancroft's failing health
mn kino IL necessary for him 10 reffain