The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-24

goods boxes The whole countryside rises
once year to do honor to the horse Tor
two successive days, and while the landed
aristocracy of this prosperous section OF
the Old Dominion really makes the show,
owns the blooded stock, and breeds the
high-grade horses, the rest OF the white
population follows calmly on, bound at
least to see what is going on, il not able
to become an active participant in the
festivities.
THE MAGNETS.
The key of the Upperville horse show is
found in the remark of one Of the coun-
trymen last night that all the great
magnets of the counties hereabouts
would be present. The show is essen
tally of the magnates. The Dulany
family owns six hundred head Of horses
and many hounds; il came originally
from England only a few generations
ago, bringing comfortable wealth, which
applied with thrift and enterprise to the
business of h2rse-bfeeding, has made dts
members recognized far and near as
great magnates. Colonel DolahS IS
president of the Colt and Horse Club,
under whose auspices the show is held.
Another magnet who drives in is Henry
Fairfax, of lloudoun county, who resides
at Oak Hill, the old estate of President
James Monroe.
Fairfax is. a State Senator, and owns
three hundred horses, of various bloods
g.
horses, including some celebrated hunters
and steeple cllasers that have taken prizes
in New Cork and philadelphia. This is
the class of men whose interest in the
affair accounts for the presence Of the
smart traps, the handsome harnesses and
the faShoDably attired visitors. Occa-
sionally mddle-class farmer who owns
six horses will work his way in and take
a prize or two, and make some good
sales.
1t should not be inferred, however, that
there is any lack of interest on the part
of the everyday yirglnian in the colt
show. This is the. great business OF this
bluegrass region, A mans progress IN
the world is measured by the number
or horses he is able TO raise and the
amount Of attention he can give to fine
breeding. Nature made this region for
horse and cattle raising. The population
is sparse, or Uppefville would not be the
horse capital.
OLD FAUoUIER
In a great county, fifty miles long by
thirty miles wide, the largest town is
Warrenton, twenty-five miles away, and
that, although the home OF statesmen
and warriors of national fame, contains
but 1850 people Upperville comes next
in Importance. Old Ffaucuier county.
pronounced Forkear) lies directly west
of the battlefield of Bull Run, extending
Guiding within its limits Lost Mountain,
Naked Mountain. uAttle Cobber, Big
Cobbler and the Bull Run Mountains,
between which and the Pond Mountains
stands Thoroughfare Gap. through which
the railroad makes its way into the
county.
Upperville is a great retail trade center,
having six general stores to which the
farmers and stocl1-raisers from all around
come to do their trading Among the re-
tailers feeling is running very high just
now against the United States government
because of the recent Inauguration Of rural
free delivery in this neighborhood THAT
is one more thing, said a storeheeper to
your correspondent this evening, that
I've got against the Republican party.
This rural delivery keeps people from
coming to town, and if they don't come to
town they find they can get along without
buying a great many things. Besides, how
do we know that they will not take to or
declrrg things by mail from Philadelphia,
New York and Baltimore, instead of conf
ing in here after them? 1t does seem as if
everything that the Republican party does
plays into the hands of trusts for these
big city stores are what 1 call trusts. The
government ought to give us a chance to
live by making folks come TO the post
office after their own mail. This fellow
that is carrying it around here is getting
500 a year, and 1 know that there amt
twelve families on his route that ever got
any mail TO amount to anything anyway.
Think Of that. I say it is Outrageous
SINTY YEARS AGO.
The colt show had its beginning sixty
years ago. Since then competitive horse
breeding has been growing until ten years
ago, when a club was formally organized
and an annual exhibit provided for Last
year there were $50 entries, and this year
49, showing that automobiles. bicycles and
electric cars have not invaded the Upper
vile horse market, or lessyled the inter
est of the world in it's fine products. Ups
peryille has made a speciality of certain
kinds; of high grade horses. particularly
hunters. the park saddle, the hackney, the
gated saddle and the high stopper. This is
not strictly a thoroughbred section. url-
derstanding that term as applying only to
racers.
The Kentucky Blue Grass has the lead in
that line. They say here that fewer high
steppers are called for than formerly. The
Increase in style is offset by lessenng
of speed, and only in a little fashionable
driving is this exchange desirable. Almost
the only colors QUE sees here are chestnuts
and bays For hunting about three
fourths thoroughbred is thought most de-
sirable, the custom being to breed to the
finest Thoroughbred they can find a mare
that is about half. A thoroughbred, on ac-
count of the ugly drop jumps in this sec
ton is too excitable.
SHOW GROUNDS.