San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-01-13

lean riders packers.
Precisely at o'clock the clear note of
a bugle cut the air. In an instant it
stilled the thousand tongues buzzing
like world of bees in convention to
nominate queen A dead hush fell
upon the vast throng in stands and
quarter stretch: the bookmakers stopped
short, and the maskers jerked off their
false faces to see better. Every eye was
turned toward the stable gates, through
which emerged group of riders, goodly
to see as they pranced down the stretch.
Count de Chavirac kept well in hand
a magnificent blood bay, tall and long
coupled and clean liInbed, as warranted
by his pedigree. For L'Empereur's sire
had twice won the Prix de Paris before
he was retired to the imperial stables,
and his dam had once made good third
| on Epson Downs. A trifie too much
daylight showed under him, but his
springy step and the power spoken in
his deep, fiat tanks promised great speed
under pressure. The counts rather pro-
nounced jockey suit of tricolor satin
shone in the sun, and from the rosette
on his cap flashed an immense diamond.
But there was nothing of the fop about
his pose in the saddle, his bride hand
controlling-a trife needlessly, perhaps
every impulse of the no BILE brrte be-
meath him.
In peculiar contrast Capt. Hoyne-Cecil
rode by his side. A low blue rowing
shirt displayed the fair skin below the
tan on his brawny neck, and its short
sleeves showed the play of muscles in
arms fair as q woman's. Buckskin
breaches and riding boots made up the
simple costume, topped only by a black
skull cap. His mount was massive
thoroughbred, with keen, small head,
and muscled front and rear like the
horses Of Achilles, as he tossed a name
like theirs from neck rather heavy for
the fancy of a keen point judge. His
chestnut coat was as shining as his
neighbours, but the impression he made
was rather Of stay and good power over
the hurdles than of peculiar fleetness on
the fiat.
But France and England, as here rep
resented before the grandchildren of
both nations, wero u goodly PAIR to look
upon. And the couple following them
wero little less attractive in their con-
trast.
Baron Won Schlegen rode a massive
roam, his great weight demanding even a
heavier horse than the rider for St.
George. His broad, bearded face was
surmounted by plumeless leather he'll
met;,a tight hussar jacket and breeches
of olive green and taSseled boots COM
pleted his dress, and he rode the deep
military saddle of his service.
Ensign La Vega rode beside the Ger
man. A small, closely knit mare, white
as milk in every hair, logged along in a
nondescript gait between single foot
and dog trot. Her clean head, I'M
hampered by breast band or martingale,
stretched easily forward, her rider rest
ing well down in his Mexican tree,
stripped Of every ornament and make
weight.
A torero jacket Of dark green, tight
black breeehcs and silk stockings, end
ing in closely strapped ankle CATERS,
made up his costume. pair Of cruel
spurs with tinkling pendants completing
its characteristic effect.
The 1.-THE, why Mexican, dwarfed by
the towering Teuton, only showed close
observers the firm knee grip of his legs
dangling straight down his horses sides,
and scarcely resting on the light wooden
| -
stirrups, just touched by the ball of the
foot.
AS they came well in sight, every eye
resting on them in eager scrutiny, Dale
Everett had risen from the generals box
and crossed the stretch into the paddock.
Leaning on the fence, wrapped in his
long braided overcoat. he carelessly
watched the group; but his quick eye
ran over every point of man and beast
and inventoTied their weaknesses with
the intuition of Workmanship.
An old troop captain of Everett's
brigade approached his commander at
the fence.
(Which is the dangerous one, genercl?'
he asked The Frerchman is favorite,
seven to four; Capt. Cecil second choice"
1.-THE Mexican" Everett answered,
never moving his eyes from the horses.
He rides. Chavirac's horse is grand;
the man will beat him"
SIS it known yet who rides for u.s."
the captain asked. ut was IL cursed
shame no one entered sooner, general.
1t warrants the sneer of these Creoles
that all Craftsmanship followed Jeb Stu
art out Of the army"
1.-The challenge is open until g." Dale
Everett answered quietly. II see Cam
eron has Jonathan in the paddock.