The morning news., 1892-01-02
ON HORsEBACK
The Granddaughter Of Chief Justice
Chase and Her Riding.

Chase and Her Riding.
From the St. Louis Republic
In some things the fearlessness which
comes from ignorance is rather to be de-
sired. What child would run il his mind
were dwelling on the possible tumbles
and bumps? A boy of 10 often
''gets his seat" quicker than the lad
of 15 Turn a kind, intelligent, we'll
broken horse and boy or girl into field
together and the art oG horse riding is we'll
begun. One cannot tell just how far the
horse willingly and amiably assists, but
there the child is, on the horses back, and
he olings and clutches and hugs with his
arms and legs and his whole little body, and
presently, without any theory at all about
it, he has mastered the business of Sticking
on" and riding follows.
Last summer | saw q little fellow, after
"getting his seat" teach himself to avoid
the tossing up and down and humping about
in the saddle; within three weeks, off alone
with nature, boy and horse swept around the
fields and over the roads as II they two con-
stituted Just one creature. His father bad
intended TO send him some time to a riding
school, where he would be taught the
"science." bnt the boy and the horse had
done the work themselves 1t all reminded
me Of one of the finest riders in Washing
ton.
Mrs. Cleveland once asked friend how it
came about that Miss Ethel Chase Sprague,
the granddaughter Of Chief Justice Chase,
OF states memory, was so remarkable q
horsewoman. "She is the most graceful
and fearless rider / ever saw" said Mrs.
Cleveland.
THAT is because she could ride before she
could talk, the other replied; and it was
the reason.
Senator Sprague lived at Narrsgansett
when the children were very young. He
had beautiful pasture not far from the
house, with fifty or sixty Shetland ponies
grazing and running wild over the many
acres of grass land. Ethel began when she
was years old TO ride any of them. With
out saddle or bride she used to gallop
around the Inclosure at the head of the
whole procession. like a LITTLE gypsy. AS
she grew older everybody in the country,
near and far, knew the pretty little horse
woman. She could mount from the fence,
or stump, OF give spring from the
ground, clinging on like small kitten, she
was SO tiny.
No wonder, as young woman, she rides
with 'such an air, )" and ''has the seat of an
expert" At one time she used TO ride a
handsome tall bay, given her by Senator
Fair and named Star. A wicked fellow to
| strangers Star was but to his mistress gen
| tie and loving as a human friend. She
| often went into his handsome box stall aud
| groonled and saddled him herself. Her
| friends would meet her. unattended, gal
Looping miles beyond Edgewood, the old
historic home of her grandfather, the chief
| justice.
recall her at q memorable paper chase
| given by the Cross Country Club. The
| roads were in bad condlsion. Several OF
the best riders fell out by the way. AS they
neared the end of the chase the way seemed
impossible, from the bitches and gulleys
| and the swollen, stony creeks. Rock creek
had risen high from the long rains. The
| woods were heavy and branches broken
Miss Sprague on Star was in the lead
Every one called to her, take care, Miss
Ethelm "Do take care, Miss Spraguer ?
shouted those nearest to her.
| LOOK out for that fallen treen
'My God She is dywnn
R1On plunged Star and his fearless mis-.
| tress. Her head struck the fallen branch
but with a steady rein she guided Star
through the thicket in safety, her head laid
on his glossy neck, aud her hat and veil like
Ahsalom's hair caught in the tree. The las
ditch was jumped, and bareheaded
scratched and dilapidated, the slim, girlist
figure dashed "at the finish"
The tally-ho coaches, the private teams o.
secretaries and the carriages Of society peo
pie stood about in gala decorations.
dozen men sprang TO escort the victor
to the breakfast room, where, flushed RnC
merry. she received from Mrs. ClevelandI
hands the prize. Mrs Cleveland pinned tC
the breast Of her habit a handsome scar
pin, set in rubies and pearls, while "tht
riders alln made haste to refresh ''Star
after his reckless journey; for not until h
was well Rroomed and blanketed coulC
Miss Ethel" enjoy her breakfast.