, 1890-09-18
STATESMEN WHO RIDE
Great Men to Be Seen on
Horseback In Washington.
A PICTURESQUE HORSEMAN
The Army and Navy Elements
Well-Dressed Riders and
Well-Bred Nags,

lnc yeuT DtiOTt liO NtIlt ubTohu,
writes the Washington correspond
ent of the New York Times, Buffalo
Bill wintered his strange assort-
ment of men and animals at Cen
eral Beale's farm, few miles north
of Washington. 1t made pleas
ant objective point for riding par
ties of young people, and the hos
pltality of His Majesty "Buck"
Taylor, king of the cowboys, be-
came famous. 1t Is related that II
proclivities called upon Taylor
one Sunday, and found him en-
tertaining n number of young men
from the city. "Peach and honey"
an ambrosial mixture of fine peach
brandy and golden honey, was be-
ing absorbed, and all hands were
performing feats of horsemanship.
One young fellow anchored his liv-
cry steed and vnulted over him, two
adventurous dare-devlls wrestled on
horseback, and tore each others
clothing and scratched each other,
and generally tousled and bruised
one another. Then "Buck" Taylor
put his gigantic frame astrlde of n
horse and begged the whole crowd
to get him ofi,-if they could
which, of course they couldn't.
The statesman looked and looked.
Then, cautiously letting himself
down from his patient nag, he
walked up to Taylor, and, placing
his hand admiringly upon his
shoulder, said; "Mi. Taylor, If 1
were not United States senator L
would be q cowboy"
Now, thissenatOr was buta variety
of an equestrian plant that flourishes
on District Of Columbia soil more
freely than on any other The
statesman on horseback may
be met with on any pleasant
afternoon in the envlrons of
Washington. He rides any way
and every way. He may tnke the
exercise because his physician has
ordered Il, and not because he likes
IL or knows anything about 1t, and
in this case he rides with extreme
caution, and Is careful to select n
| Roscoe Conkling when he was in
the senate. He rode little sorrel
horse, and both horse and rider were
equally unhappy in appearance, and
probably equally anxious to get
home.
Such Is not tho style of Henry
Cabot Lodge, the literary politician
who represents the Sixth Massachu-
| e,xtt Il tat, t.e IL, L.. II a
English fashion, short stirrups, feet
well into them, body rather stoop-
ing. But he rides we'll and his roam
hunter can jump well. The story
of his arrest at the end of a paper
chase some eighteen months ago Is
still fresh in the public mind. He
"played hockey" from the house,
took part in one OF the most des-
perate rides Washington has ever
seen, had n fall, got covered
with mud, got on again, and rode to
win. He finished first mana
young lady was the first person in
lie received fine ovation from the
people on the coaches and carriages
that wns drawn up to see the finish
and he was promptly arrested by a
deputy sergeunt-at-arms and carried
before the bar of the house, having
been "absent without its leave" /"
a call of the house having been
ordered during his absence
Another statesman who can he
seen upon the road almost every day
is Mr.. Justice l.. q. G. Lamar. He
rides n big, strong, racking bay,
holds himself easily, like one who is
thoroughly accustomed to 1t, and
appears us much at home as if he
was loating on the veranda of his
old plantation house In Mississippi
The vice president goes out on
the road, too, sometimes, rides we'll,
and always has good mount, gem
orally sleek chestnut, with white
stockings behind.
Senator Edmunds does not ride as
much rs lie used to, but he still
keeps 1t up, and Is not u bad figure
in the saddle. but Senator Wade
Hampton, of South Carolina, IL an
expert, Notwithstanding the fact
that he wears a cork leg. His bay
mare Is one of the most mettlesome
and perfect pieces of horseilesh in
the city.
The once familiar figure of the
venerable George Bancroft Is no
longer to be seen in the saddle.
Only year ago he might be met
with any day, proceeding slowly on
his constitutional ride, his snow
white hair and flowing beard, his
cloth cap, his wiso-looking specta-
cles, and his powerful and gentle
brown horse making picture not
easily forgotten. Mr.. Bancroft is
now 81 years Of age, and his horse
back days are over.
AS for the administration, IL Is not
an equestrian one.
The vice president is the only one
that trusts himself upon horse.
Neither the president nor any
the cabinet Is ever seen In the sad
die. In this it Is II contrast to Mr..
Cleveland's administration. Mr..
Bayard was on the road every day,
and an excellent rider he was, too,
generally taking jog trot and not
rising from the saddle. Secretary
Whitney used to ride big gray
hunter, and was n most expert
jumper, and Secretary Fairchild
had n stout bay nag that took n
hurdle very neatly, with the secre-
tary sitting him well while he did 1t.
Probably the most picturesque
figure on horse that has ever ap-
peared here was Dr. Vow of the Chi
nese legation, who has only recently
departed. He wore all the colors OF
the rain bow, his blue blouse. yellow
trousers and white slippers making
figure that many skittish horse
shied at. He always inserted his
pigtail in his pocket, n wise preca u.
I L.. - L.. l..