Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-08-29
eoNNER.s FIRST HORSE.

It Was Bought by the Publishers Doc
tor to Force Him to Exercise.
II well remember the first driving
horse that Robert Bonner purchased"
said DR.. Samuel Hall, Of New York
City. ITO be more accurate, 1t was I
who purchased the animal for Mr.:
Bonner. 1 was his family physician
during the fifties, and one hot summer
day met him on Broadway. He had
been 30 busily engaged with the New
York Ledger, which he purchased in
1861. that had not seen him for some
time. When l met him was actually
startled by the mans appearance. He
was well-nigh unacceptable. Dark
lines showed under his eyes and his
skin was pale and drawn like the skin
Of . consumptive.
Bonner cried, what have you
been doing to yourself? Here, come
into the shadow. You're in an excel
lent condition to suffer a sunstroke.'
"'Oh, there's nothing much the mat
ter he answered. I'm simply worked
out, trying to make this paper Of mine
q 60. That's ALL
"-That's air said l. We'll, that's
nearly enough to put you In your
grave. Here, jump into this omnibus
and get q breath Of air.
Cant do II. doctor! he replied. 4
have an important engagement which
must be kept
Bonner l persisted, gripping him
by the arm and detaining him, it's my
duty to tell you that you are killing
yourself. You must take a rest But
In spite Of the most direful warnings
and strongest pleas, the ScOtch-Irish In
him insisted on having its own way,
and he left me-nOt, however. until
had made him promise to drive regu-
larly in the country at least once
week.
ITO make sure that he would keep
his promise, I bought an excellent
roadster, which cost, remember, $3.50,
and sent the animal to Mr.. Bonner.
Shortly afterward I met him out driv-
ing. His cheeks were aglOw, and on
recognizing me he pulled up aloAgside,
and reaching his hand to me, said in
great enthusiasm: Doctor. l want TO
thank you. never would have known
the Joy Of sitting behind good horse
had 1t not been for yed.'
1.-TWO or three months later he bought
a span of iron-gray horses, for which
he paid 1900.
"From the time Of this purchase un-
til his death Mr.. Bonner was the best
known strictly amateur hOrseman in
this country. To crafty his taste for
fast horses he purchased some Of the
most celebrated trotters In the world
but withdrew them from the race
course. Probably his greatest horses
were Peerless. Dexter and Maud s.,
marking as they did three distinct
epochs in the history Of trotting horses
in this country.
ITO my mind" continued the doctor,
although Robert BOnner's purchases
were prompted for the most part by
an. honest, real love for thoroughbred
trotters. there Is no doubt that he was
the 'shrewdest advertiser of his day.
Whenever he bought a horse at a seem
ingly exorbitant figure. the issue OF
every prominent paper in the country
on the day following would contain a
description Of the animal purchased,
and, parenthetically, a very complete
description Of the New York Ledger
The result was that for every dollar
Mr.. Bonner gave to horsemen he re-
ceived the amount a dozen times over
In return from the public, which was
attracted to a man who had the un-
selfish spirit and generosity to practi-
cally pension the idols Of the turf by
buying the best Of them for use in his
own buggy. I have no doubt that this
clever advertising had much to do with
bringing the Ledger before the people
Mail and Express.