The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-09-11

Is expected to take part In the citys
festival. \ huge figure In white uni
form shows itself The impassiveness
of this countenance with Its eagle pro
file and small. glittering eyes, is unmis-
taxable.
Ills he. the autocrat the emperor of
all the Russias
From the human hive mounts and
swells n growing noise; cries, oaths,
calls from the Kras senders, all blend
themselves in formidable roar Long
live the car"
At this moment rosewood sled
drawn by white horses stops in front
of the box nearest the royal pavilion.
The president of the jury precipitates
himself at the horses feet, and aids a
young woman to descend. The tall
figure, with its long, loose wrap of
priceless blue fox and Its aureoie of
wonderful red hair. is we'll known In
St. Petersburg. She is the Princess
Elisaveta Palorna, the beauty of three
seasons Repine follows her. Under
her little fur cap. with his jeweled fee,
Neta's eyes look out, serene impene-
trable. a bell sounds and silence falls
on the waiting multitude From open
gates stream dozen or more horses
harnessed to light seds of gilded osier.
They are pure blooded Arabians. thick
set mustangs from the steppes, and
highly bred Orloifs with sweeping
names, white and shiny as spun glass.
The people watch these prelImlna-
ries alphabetically. They are waiting
for the piece de resistance" the three
horse race, with princes as drivers. Al
ready four races have been run The
track Is cleared and the 900 workers
take up their task of sweeping away
the powdered Ice beaten up by the iron
hoofs. Once more the gates open, and
three splendid bays appear with the
same sled of gilded osier, but larger
and more elegant. They are followed
by three black Flnlanders, with shaggy
coats and talls that sweep the ground.
The last Corners are Orloff stations,
white and dazzling ms the snow Itself.
Their short hair glStens rs though
oiled, and silver reflections shndow
their smooth tanks and elegant neeks:
their mouths are black and their nos
trlls immense. qniyering and rose lined;
their eyes, tender. yet prominent and
full Of fire are cifeled by n sooty ring
like those of the Asiutie women. They
are the pets of the hour There they
stand. the nine superb creatures. CON
trollcd lay splendid discipline that
does not permit the most timid paving
OF their impatient hoofs and with over
100000 eyes admlring their matchlcss
perfection.
Three sorry horses, emaeiated and
sad, splashed with mud and covered
with ragged harness. half string, half
leather, advance slowly into the arena.
Behind them trails clumsy vehicle
made from the bark of the Russian fir
tree and shaped like the EapIander's
hunting sled. With droopjng honds
and dragging limbs the weIry beasts
come forward and place themselves be-
side their arlstoerhtic predecessors. A
cry of horror rises up from the crowd.
Leaning back In her box. Neta watches
the late arrivals with fixed intentness.
The bell rings noisily. The race
commences.
The bays lead by several lengths. The
middle horse, an old favorite, lifts his
feet with all the alluring charm of n
star of the nations hippodrome; his
companions, brothers from the Don.
thin and ardent, run without effort
After them come the Finlanders, tear
ing furiously on the reins Sufficiently
in the rear to astonish their hackers
are the OrloH stations. verltable won
ders Of beauty and breed.
Finally, following at a long distance
behind their royal leaders, are the three
strange beasts with their Laplandish
sled. They run lrregularly, and their
little thin bells give out melancholy
sound. 1t Is in this order that the
sleds pass for the first time In front Of
the judges stand.
Half way on the second round the
Finlanders fling out their sturdy heels
with such velocity that they look like
the half circle of a bounding hoop.
They pass the bays. A quick swelling
of their massive chests and they forge
ahead.
"Hurrah" Shrek the people. raw
ished with the success of their favor
ties. At this moment the unknown
peasant straightens up his giant frame.
Pushing back the heavy hat drawn
down to his eyes. he grips the reins
with m iron hand and gives a curious
prolonged whistle, His skeleton horses
are strangely metamorphosed. As
though In answer to some superhuman
command, they give one gigantic leap
and fairly fly. For moment they run
beside the white stations.
The Orlons leadp screams the null
ttude, then shudders.
Beyond the shapely heads of the
city's favorites stretched six dark
pointed ears, to he followed by three
heads with glarlng eyes and foamIng
blood fiecked jaws.
With her body stretched half out Of
her box Yeta watches them with fascl-
mating eyes. Her chest heaves, her
limbs tremble, aud her face takes on
the anguish of the laboring brutes.
Don't worry" whispers Replne
"They will lose"
''They VIII win" she answers hoarse.
ly. 81 know them"
"The Oroffs gain" says somebody In
the next box.
"Ah" groans Veta and bites her lip
to the blood.
Once more the peasants whistle
startles the still air. and with pro-
dlgious effort his horses leave the 9th.
ers behind Transfigured by the wax
ing of their unknown blood. carried
by secret ecstasy. with floating
names and sonorous breath, they rush
Oh toward the expected goal.
They reach it-yictorlous winners by
three lengths.
For one long moment the people rest
mute with stupefaction, literally inca
pable Of applause. They stare open
mouthed at the sordld beasts that have
beaten the noblest blood OF the land,
then like one man they dash forward
to look at them, to ask their race and