The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1896-05-07

liy SEe eaSSl III SuPeTiuleH'iihS LuS ~
loading of several ships laden with
Russian wheat. After learning my er-
rand, he informed me that he was
too busy to leave, but placed
me in charge of young Ger
man kaborer with instructions 10
procure some sort of q vehicle and act
as my guide in going to the residence
of Mr.. Edward Leuben, about five
miles distant. The young man knew
even less of English than did of Ger
man. lie started with me through the
town carrying his dinner bucket in his
hand, as l supposed to find the vehicle.
But on he went at n swinging pace at
the rate of about four miles an hour,
while 1 limped along behind him as
best / could. suffering at the time from
the effects of carbuncle aggravated
by rheumatism. But on he went into
the country at the same pace looking
neither to the right nor to the left
After we had walked about two miles
| began to shout to him and make mo
tions, trying to make him understand
that | was lame and tired and wished
to ride according 10 the arrangement
made by the consul. Evidently he
didn't understand the situation for he
simply smiled, said "Leuben. Leuben."
and pointed ahead. About ever mile
went through the same peri formance.
But nothing could stop him. Finally.
at the end of five miles walk, one of
the most tiresome pedestrian expert
ences ] ever had, we arrived at Mr..
Leuben's residence. 1t was the ideal
German farmers home of the best
class-a very large, old, steep-roofcd.
thatch-covered, brick house, surround
ed by moat, or small canal, about
Is feet vide and feet deep, half filled
with water, which served in lieu of
door, my guide knocked, and, accord
ing to what seemed to be the German
custom, without waiting an invitation,
Immediately entered and led the way
nearly through the lower story of the
building and then inquired for Mr.
Leuben. My host soon appeared. IIav.
ing a fair knowledge of English he
readily understood my mission and
laughed heartily when he learned how
i
under the circumstances which have
described After / had dismissed my
guide, we proceeded to an examination
Of the horses.
But first my host and his son and !
sat down to a fine luncheon which in
cludcd the ever present wine and beer.
Then he led the way to the rear end of
the lower hall. and opening the door
and going down three steps we found
ourselves in a very large stable under
the same roof which covered the house.
In it found great many horses, cat
tie and hogs. After passing through
the sta ble we went out into the rear
yard or driveway, where many hand
some stations, mares, colts and files
were brought out in succession, max
ing on the whole 4 very fine exhibit,
On the next day, Mr. Henry Leuben,
the son. drove me many miles through
the district from farm to farm show
ing me the German coach horse in
everyday use on the farm and the field.
The Oldenburg coach horse is from six
teen to seventeen hands high, weighs
from 200 to 1,3o0 pounds, has plenty
of both bone Gnd muscle for the
road, the street, or the farm;
good shoulders, quarters, loins and
backs, neck we'll set on, arched and
long enough for the carriage; head
we'll formed, neither too large nor too
small; eyes large, mild and expressive,
in action bold, straight and true; with
head and tail carried we'll up. These
horses appear to be intelligent and
docile. In color they are bay, brown
or black. the grey or chestnut being
very. rare. They are large, handsome,
stylish carriage horses with substance
enough for the heaviest work on the
farm; but, of course, they are not
heavy enough for the city dray. 1t is
claimed for them that they mature
very early and that they have plenty
of speed for the larger class of driving
horses; that is, for use in surreys,
broughams, victorias and kindred We
hicles, and that some of them can trot
mile in less than three minutes. AS
to .'te work on the road can cite only
- ngle instance. During the
Loon already mentioned, 1 had
the. pleasure of driving with two
other men in a heavy cart. which
weighed considerably more than an
American surrey, drawn by farm
mare of medium size, at the rate of not
less than ten miles per hour with oc-
casional stops to look at horses. This
she did without the use of whip and
without any urging, going all the time
free and strong, part of the distance
over an alternate stone-block and
brick roadway, and the remainder trip
over sloppy mud-road, for the state
ment, SO often published, that there
! are no mud-roads in Germany, is mere.
ly pleasant fiction.