The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1892-02-13
EXPENSIVE WHIPS.
SOME COSTLY ARTICLES OWNED
BY WEALTHY DRIVERS.

Inc whip and ivory stock, before any
carving was done, cost 5000. 1t was seven
feet long. Above the stock the whip
was made of solid whalebone, then worth
three dollars per pound, now scarce at
ten dollars. Over this solid whalebone
was the finest braiding of split tapered
whalebone ever attempted.
The braiding Of the whip and making
of the snapper occupied one whole
month. The case for the whip cost 800
The handle of the whip was Of the purest
ivory, 81 inches long and II inches thick
at the butt end, which is an ornamental
capitol, from which floral pattern ema-
mates, emblamatic of power, truth and
perpetuity, which encircles four panels.
In each panel is wonderful piece of
carving-on one side a locomotive and a
train of cars; on the other a steamboat,
symbolizing the foundations of Cornelius
Vanderbilt's great achievements.
On the third and fourth panels are the
achievements of w. II. Vanderbilt's
genius, the Grand Central railroad de-
pot on one and on the other himself in q
buggy driving his celebrated fast horses
on the road. On the end of the handle
are two portrait busts in high relief of
Cornelius and w. Ii. Vanderbilt, father
and son. This whip is sacredly kept in
a glass case among the art treasures of
the Vanderbilt gallery, and in future
generations will be treasured as work
of art, even though it is simply whip.
Jim Fisk had driving whip covered
with silk thread, heavy carved ivory
handle, handsomely engraved, gold
diamonds. The whip, with its velvet
lined case, cost $500. w. K. Vanderbilt
has fine whip, costing $3.50.
SOME FAMOUS WHIPS.
Jay Gould has whip, made for him
twenty years ago, at cost of 800. He
has had it repaired only once.
Mr.. Hammond, of the Murray Hill
hotel, New York, had whip worth So,
and Harry Hill, the famous New Yorker.
had one worth $50.
Hon. Arthur Siedler, of Morristown.
N. j., has al ivory handled whip, beauti
fully mounted with silver. On the ivory
Is carved his monogram. The whip cost
several hundred dollars.
The late Theodore Stewart, of New
York, had whip that cost him $500.
Pierre Lorillard, of New York, has
fine whip, with Il handle Of ivory. richly
carved and encircte.l b. twiuin5 leaves
Of tobacco, into Winch his monogram Is
deftly carved. 1t was presented to Mr.
Lorillard by friends, and is valued at
$500.
1t is quite fad with ladies who ride
to have a couple of fine gold mounted
whips, tied with their favorite color Of
ribbon and laid in the form of an x on
their beds.
Many thousands of dollars is expended
every year in fine driving whips, costing
from $25 to 500, rs presents to promi,
nent men III clubs, societies, railroad
and steamship companies, etc. Fine
whips share with the gold headed canes
in their use as gifts. AS nearly every
gentleman keeps fine horse, he must
needs have fine whip.
For female riders. q large variety is
made.
AS the country grows moro densely
populated, and richer and finer goods
become larger part Of regular trade,
new and novel designs are continually
brought out by manufacturers.
THREE KINDS OF WHIPS.
There are three kinds of whips-ths
straight or buggy whip, the lash whip.
and, for riding, the English CROP The
crop is a handsomely mounted. short,
straight stick, with fiat leather thong
- 4
be fastened lash.
America leads the world in whips, an1
the Englishmen have found this out long
ago A year ago number Of noblemen
sent man over here to pick out some
whips. Now, the American whip is
straight whip, while the English, French
and German whips are all Lash whips.
A New York lady has driving whip
which she values at s. 600 In the stock
of the whip are forty-seven diamonds.
One of the costliest whips ever made
in this country was made in Connecticut
for a Frenchman. 1t was paid for by an
American and cost $1,000. The stock
'-"7 carved ivory, gold and jewels. The
~A'p itself was whalebone, braided
vl.h tapering whalebone thread. It
took two weeks to braid the whip.
A farmer living near New York has
whip over 100 years old He bought it
at country auction for thirty-six dol
lars. He has been offered 800 for it AZ
curiosity. He refused it. It is very
thick, heavy ivory, clumsily turned stock.
The ivory alone is worth twenty-five dol
lars, and is beautiful piece.
A whip dealer in New York has very
old whip stock that has carried off prizes
in London and Paris, and will be on ex-
hibition at the Worlds fair in Chicago.
It was made in 1892.
Bismarck and the German emperor
have their whips made in this country.
Many costly whips are made here for
English and French actors, who take
them home to present to friends. Most
Of the swell puardsmeu in ENGLAND who