The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-18
OLD TIMER TALKS AGAIN
PHILOs0PICALLr DISCUSSES the
MORAL TESDhNcrEs OF THE AGE.
He Pictures the Perfect Horse and De-
scribes the Greatest Race that Eyer
Came on in Tennessee.

MEtkLENBOKt, VA, w. i's-ope-
cial.-"Cepticism' said the old gentle
man. lis entirely too much the fashion
these latter days. You hear constantly
Of the degenracy of the times, and hear
men tell of the purity OF the people In
bygone days. and In their estimation the
human family is dcgenerating. morally
In a most deplorable degree when' IN
fact. religion. morality, and good citi-
zenship become more common as euucd-
ton reaches all classes Of the communi-
ty as 1t does now.
What chance would a man stand To-
day in the racing world who would poi
son his adversary's horse. as was done
TO Col. John s. Whites Blue DICK, AT
New Orleans? l think it was in the
early fortys Col. White publicly charged
the man with the crime, but 1t seemed
to have had no effect on his career. as
| recently saw beautiful panegyric pdid
him by some writer on the turf
In this county, Col. John Goode, one or
the most honorable gentlemen who ever
lived. had his famous horse. Little
Twig." drugged the night before he had
to run for a big stake. Col. Goode was
fully aware of the trick, but agreed TO
pay. lie died shortly after the race.
In his will he appointed Col. Mark Alex
arder as his executor. The first execu-
tory act was to pay this debt-lost by
foul play.
AN HONEST MAN.
Some one remarked 10 him that they
thought he had been imprudent in pay
ing II, as any Of the legatees could hold
him personally responsible for paying a
gambling debt The reply ot Col Alex
ander was Characteristic OF him, and his
descendants down 20 the present day:
Sir" said he. IL there descendant OF
my dear old friend so lost 10 decency as
70 wish now 70 smirch the honorable
record Of his noble ancestor, by God, sir
/ will pay the debt myself rather than
see the memory Of my dead friend dis
honored.'
The descendants OF these natures no.
blemen" are stil with Us, and they, in
heriting the high qualities a their an
cestry, and having educational advan-
tages such as were not dreamed OF in
that day. gives 20 Virginia many men
well deserving the appelation of God 5
freemen" which IS Il nobler title than
king, prince, or duke.
NAPOLEON OF TIE TURF.
Amongst the MODEST OF those grand
old gentlemen was Col VIM. r. Johnson.
known nationally as the Napoleon OF
the turf" General Andrew Jackson had
a great love for all kinds Of sport, and
especially was he devoted 10 the sport
OF kings" lie had been having 4 hard
time on the race-c0urse for many moons
a horse ont there had beaten every one
the Genearl could get. Tie wrote TO a
friend I'm Virginia asking him to try and
find a horse which could beat a certain
time, and II such o horse could be found.
70 buy him and send him ont 70 Ten
nessee TO lin.
The gentleman had TO difficulty IN find
ing such q horse IN p1cOla- but Col
Johnsons price Of s. ,'Y Wa 20 much be
y0nd the CUSTOMARY prices paid at that
day that he diI no Feel authorized TO
buy him without FIRST writing and telling
the General OF the IN iual price de-
manded for the colt.
4 BIG p rE.
The General repli that II the colt
could do Che time to buy him at once and
send him along. This was done. hut the
journey and exposure got the colt so out
OF condition that when he reached the
General one-eyed Henry Clay, who was
the Generals trainer, pronounced the colt
worthless. Whereuron an angry cores
pondence began between Gen. Jackson
and Col Johnson. which was likely 10
eliminate in a hostile meeting; but Just
then. as the spring began 20 open the
colt began 10 show signs Of rccuperation.
and II was not long before Clay reported
70 the General that De had been much
mistaken in the colt and that he was
then satisfied that the only trouble had
been in the colts having taken cold. and
was therefore "on his feed only. Gen.
Jackson az once wrote Col Johnson tell
ing him of Clay's mistake and making
amende honorable, which was freely ac-
cepted As the weather turned warmer
the colt entirely recovered. and Clay re-
ported that he could do more than had
been represented.
a GREAT RACE.
The time for the biz race drew near.
and by Clay's advice Gen. Jackson took
all bets offered. The native horse,
whose name l have forgotten. had won
all his races previously. and was backed
by all the old spOrtsmen with odds be-
ginning al 4 10 /, but the prompt action
of Gen. Jackson in taking all bets offer
ed. soon reduced the rates TO 10 /. whfre
they remained until the day OF the race.
Around the track that day the General
was so free to accept them that it got
to even money before the sport began.
The horses were brought out; the ex-
element was intorse PacOlet had re-
ceived little notice previously. but when
he walked out. a splendid dappled-gray
with n head like q deer and eyes flash
ing, his whole contour struck every one,
for seldom had a more beautiful horse
been seen. Full sixteen hands. with
body as round as a barrel long, arched
neck a small. bOny head. with eyes as
full and intelligent as one can imagine.
a shoulder running beck with the grace
full curve OF q sadlle-hOrse: a lOin rising
over well-rOunded hips. showing immense
power; under all set OF clean. long
legs. from which the muscle and tendon
showed that he was q race-h0rse. HIS
whole appearance was so striking that
even his enemies had 10 join IN a sponta-
neous cheer. given by Gods most intelli-
gent. 20 HIS most beautiful h7ndiwork.
SINGULAR INST RUCTIONS.
Clays instructions TO his rider, just be-
fore the race began. was short.
lie told the boy that he would be
around on the back stretch" and that
II he (Clay) took his hat OF that he
(the boy) was 10 drive the horse home as
quickly as possible.
The gray was leading at his ease when
they approached Clay. the boy sitting
easily and holding him in. The sight
was so beautiful and the whole makeup
of Caly so filled with enthusiasm that he
forgot the instructions he had given the
boy. and rising TO his fun height Of
feet 8. he pulled his hat from his head
dashed IL 10 the ground. saying, BOYS,
IN be id II | amt got EN-" The
boy. remembering his instructions. touch
ed Pacolet with the spur. His great gray
tail flew ND 20 the unwonted touch and
covered the boy from cap TO saddle. His
dash home distanced the other horse. and
another row seemed imminent, when