Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-09-14

Myrtle PEEK AND HER HORSES.
something Interesting About the Great
Attractions Billed for the valley Fair
Week After Next.

something Interesting About the Great
Attractions Billed for the valley Fair
Week After Next.
From Lewiston, Me-, paperl
Give us your fives, Boston," said the
Jolly "horse-boy,' with the skin like dusky
copper. Lift her up here, old fellow
ana the big, gentle-eyed black bent his
knee slowly and "shook hands," He is
Miss Myrtle Peek's bright particular Jew
el, Is Boston, the trick horse, the pet of
the children and the cynosure of all admir-
ing feminine eyes when he steps gayly to
music before the grand stand.
Miss Peek's string is away out in the
southern end of the row of stalls that face
the grand stand. There are nine of them
there now. She owns "a, when she has
them all together, and she carries 10
attendants, two drivers and a foreman to
attend to their wants.
The trick horse, Boston, as we have said,
is the pet of the string. He waltzes to
music, he bows, curvets and marks time,
he poses for the grand stands benefit and
he acts as self-conscious as boy ''speak-
ing piece" on the last day of school.
Queen Bess is the famous jumper who
will skim over a hurdle in manner to
take your breath away Go up and look
at her in her stall and you'll never be more
surprised in your life if you expect to see
in the jumper a rangy, gaunt sky-scraper.
Bess is chunky, short-legged mare who
looks as though she would shiver at curb
stone, but, dear friend, you can't always
tell by the looks. etc. Bess does her six
feet four and half like a bird, as you'll
see for yourself if you are here, and of
course everyone is this week.
BY the way, in speaking of leaping
horses, it may interest you to know that
Miss Myrtle Peek is a sister of Madame
Filene of Forepaugh's show, who owns
and rides the famous horse, Fiema-
ker. Both sisters are enthusiastic horse
women and both are now famous. If
Miss Peek will forgive us We'll tell her
age. She is u years old and for seven
years she has travelled about the country
with her aggregation or combination, as
she calls it. Her most sensational feat is
that terrific dOuble-ba dash about the
track, standing astridc on the backs of two
horses. The chariot race, two horses at
| tached to bicycle sulky and running for
dear life, is also rather nerve tickling and
the remembrance will be carried home
with you.
This exhibition at Lewiston is Miss
Peek's second appearance since her recent
! illness. She was confined five weeks at
| Old Orchard this summer by tonsilitis, and
even now is troubled a bit by her throat.
During the stay at the beach the horses
were given sea bath every day and the
drivers say that the process was a great
| thing for them as well as the attendants
who accompanied them into the surf.
These horses see more of the country
than most of us do. Their jump to Lew
iston was from Cameron, Mo-, a trip of
100 miles. In making these long trips
the horses have everything arranged for
their comfort. They travel in a 64-foot
Burton car. In it are water tanks, feed
troughs and receptaces, and all equine
conveniences. They have along their own
blacksmith.
Miss Peek has had some hard luck re-
Gently. AT Mystic she lost two horses in
the fire this summer, and at York, Pa,
the horse, Commander, the new trick
horse, New York, and her costumes were
burned.
The winter quarters of the combination
are at Baltimore, Md. There are at that
place commodous stables, a private ring
etc. The shoes are taken off all the
horses and the runners are turned out fol
their health. Training for the campaign
begins about April l.
Miss Peek is a bright, CHEEKY woman
with keen relish for the excitement o.
her profession, great liking for theatres
any amount of grit, and is the owner of q
LITTLE midget of a black dog that sh'
wouldn't seq Cor its eight in silver-w,
guess