The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-08
ROBERT BONNER.
A Letter Concerning Him from nm Old
Friend.

Friend.
To THE EDIToR OF THE SuN-Sir: There
never was man OF more rcsolutc purpose than
Robert Bonner. Although he paid Il fortune
for such kings OF tho trotting turf as Dexter,
Rarus. Maud S. and Sunol. and could have
coined money out of each II he had permitted
them to remain on the turf. he was proof
against all tcmptation. He was satisfied with
pride Of ownership. He frankly stated his
position Sept. =. 1894 in a letter to Mr.. George
II. Stuart, President Of the Merchants Bank of
Philadelphia:
"You say that during the fair there will he no
trottng or racing OF any kind Now. 1 am az much
opposed TO trotting racing for money any one.
Anything that involves includes betting whether
II be on the result of the contest between horses
the result Of contest between candidates for the
Presidency, object to. These have been my life.
long convictions. have always maintained that
gentleman can own and drive good horse without
being obliged to wager money what the animal
can accomplish. But IL there In to be trotting.
even when disconnected with betting at the fair of
your state Agricultural Society. do not see that
Maud & has any business there. She excels all other
horses. not in size weight even in beauty. al
though she is a very handsome animal. but in trot-
ting which. IT seems, your State society excludes
from its exhibition. Surely thcrc can be nothing
wrong in permitting an animal like Maud $. to dis
play her natural powers So long she is not used
for gambling purposes"
When Mr.. J. l. Case issued a challenge to
trot Jay Eye-Sec against Maud s.. and spccula-
tors who saw an opportunity to make great
deal Of MONEY %, out of the excitement were an,
OF 100000 for his great mare. a step was
taken which created general surprise Although
Mr. Bonner and Mr.. Vanderbilt had been eS-
rival and offered him Maud s for about one
thlrd the sum that others were willing to pay
Tor her. He ull this because he know that the
public had faith In the professions Of Mr.. Bon
Gr Knew woa that Re Was th tbs R
S a. I" M Ei
S%rI from 81 tie sqS q T, IT, Bsnn: ATs
made it possible for the mare to- reaprcnr in
public and obtain credit for, what she did, She
her rccord. and should she beat the record the
directors of the track were to commemorate
with he time made by her engraved thercon'i
Az Lexington no admission fees wore charged
ana there were no wagers of any kind in dis;
d BSnn s me S'S Grove ' out pen
driven on that day. His strict ideas Of morality
and inilexible purpose lifted the trotting horse
schemers had plunged him and paved the way
s reached s2 2Gnth wG%n "a1 %ss
paid Sl25.OOO for AriOn as Il two-y ear-old.
Mr., Bonner was strong Fighter. but his heart
bb 9s %ay 5sr he s hid MduES9
r"% Thorqas and h r rh9 nns' is ," cute SS%s
advance breeding. and it would he a gracious
act on your part to call on him" After brief
Ihornr would be glad to see me will go to
Ihorndale with you any day you arrange"
Us r was R0 anf b his
men were thus reunited in the bonds of friend
ship and abored tremendously in the same
sitting in tho library OF Mr., Bonner not
long after Gen. Benjamin +. Tracy had pur-
remarked: You have a fast son of Advertiser
in Morther; As you hqye driven him a half
record OF 2:lii or better. Why not turn him
over to Gen Tracy,s trancr and allow a record
The o As Bon e %ns ad %ss
that he was lying on n sofa. but he. straight
enod up and with angry gesture said: What.
principles. to reverse the policy OF my life?
Ana G Cen Tracy am surprised that he should
shaded Robert Bonner will Die as he has
wnsa the STORM tine to s2Gs and fam nsH
remarked: You did not wait for inc to finish
What was G"imgto say Neither | nor Gen.
We should lose respect for YOU ii YOU did
change. The suggestion is toput a record upon
was put upon, Maud $. The proposition is TO
train him and commemorate tho achievement
with cup" The anger passed from his face
and he said: beg Your pardon. | misundrr-
stood You. As You know have not been we'll
all winter. MN n"rN are not under the best
control. and there is slight tendency to fly off
the handle
The softer. side Of Mr. Bonner was seldom
revealed to the public. 4 short letter shows
how the death Of his son affected him:
X WEsT FItTY-slXTH STREET, Jan. ~.
DEAR MIR. BusHEY, A day or two after your beau
tful and touching tribute TO Alley appeared tried
read II aloud to two memhrIs OF the family. hut
chok"d mp and broke down before finished it.
That was over two weeks ago. This afternoon |
opened the k"niucLV Stock Farm. when | was all
alone. and read it there, but could not finish the
concluding sentences without tears running down
my checks. Ahectionatcly, RoREET LoNSFR.
Only those who were ON intimate terms with
Mr.. Bonner know how many problems in far
riery were mastered Ivy him. He has left much
memoranda on the subject which if nut into
volume will add UNNECESSARILY to the sum
OF human knowledge. HAMILTON BUSDEY
BISHOP POTTER'S 4GNOSTICISM