Omaha daily bee., 1893-11-12

he could not do it and the physician Their ad-
vised him to buy q horse and drive several
hours every day. He bought the best team
he could find and as he drove them he be-
came interested in them and his mind went
from the building of railroads to the speed
ing OF horses. He studied the horse and
formulated a new theory for horse breeding.
In order to support it he had his famous
photographs made of the horse in motion,
the taking and publishing of which cost him
over 100000. Throughout the remainder Of
his life he got his best rest when he was
working with his horses, and his stock farm
when he died was worth millions.
How Robert Bonner Secured Health.
1t was the same with Robert Bonner, the
proprietor of the New York Ledger, and the
owner OF Dexter, Maud S and Sunol. In
1856 Bonner, who began life as an Office boy,
and who up to that time had worked without
cessation, began to fail in health. He could
not sleep and his meals did not agree with
him. One dag his family physician came
into his office and said, Robert, l want
your check for 1916"
What forl" asked Bonner.
~ have got q horse for you," replied the
physician, land l want you to drive him.
You are making a lot Of money, but it will
be OF no good to you If you can't live aud en-
Joy it, ana your only salvation is to get into
The open air for a part of every day." Well,
Bonner gave the man the check and got
the horse. He began to speed hicn and
tried in his drives to pass such men as John
Harper Of Harper Brothers and Commodore
Vanderbilt, who were taking the same med
icine. He soon became interested in horse
flesh and bought a team for $1,000 which
Lrotted q mile in 2:5S. This was considered
very fast in those days, but Bonner went on
buying from year to year until one day he
paid $40, 900 for the mare PocahontaS, which
was the highest price up to that tlme ever
paid for q horse. Pocahontas went in 2:l7,
and a year later Bonner gave s4O,oOO more
for Dexter. He afterward paid the same
amount to Vanderbilt for Maud S., and it is
said that the price he paid Stanford for
Sunol is more than 500 900, All together
he has spent in the neighborhood of S500, 900
for horses and his chief pleasure in his old
age is said to be driving. John Rockefeller
gets much of his rest from his horses. lie
keeps a good stud and he used to get no at 8
a. m. and speed his team for an hour before
breakfast. The late millionaire Congress
man Scott of Pennsylvania eased his brain
with horse-breediDg and Don Cameron woo5
the god Of health Dy taking long horseback
rides in the country.
Rest from Card Playing.
A number Of our statesmen get their rest
from cards. Secretary Carlisle plays poker
nearly every evening and the financial prob
lens of the treasury fly away before the ex-
element which comes from a game of penny
ante. John Sherman eases his mind with a
game of whist and Garfield, when he was
troubled with INSOMNIA, USED 10 get up and
play solitaire in his night shirt. Carlisle, |
am told, plays solitaire during some OF his
hardest work. Wolcott, Don Cameron and
Secretary Gresham lose themselves IN poker,
aud nearly all OF the southern statesmen
are addicted TO this game. Henry Clay Is
said 10 have bsen the best seyen-up player in
the state of Kentucky, and when he was
making the treaty of Client he relieved his
mind by winning all sorts OF bets from AL
bert Gallatin. Powell Clayton Of Arkansas
is very fond of poker. and the good Deacon
| Smith of the Cincinnati Commentaries IA
| zeIte Is said TO take his rest through cards.
President Cleveland, during mis- stay In Buff
falo, was an expert at penuchle, and l ven
ture TO say that he ana Postmaster General
Bis sci have O quiet game after cabinet az
fairs are over. Nearly all of the supreme
court justices play whist, and Gray OF Mas
| saohusetts Is said TO be the best whist player
la Washington. Harrison was q good whist
player and Secretary Foster could play
slmost any sort OF cards and play them well.
billiards and brains.
Billiards is one Of the best games for
boiled brains. John Quincy Adams found
] this out years ago, AMI he bought the first
| billiard table that ever went into the white
house. There Is q billiard table In the ex.
! ecutiye mansion today, and 1t Is said thai
| President Cleveland handles the cue for an
hour at q time after he has been worried "a
death by officeseekers. President Garfield
WAS also q good billiard player, and he was
also fond Of croQust and ball Arthur used