The Republican journal., 1901-08-29

AAVN NAC SAdl
At this moment a rosewood s,ad
drawn by white horses stops in Front
OF the box nearest the ROYAL navil;on
The president of the Jury PERCENTAGES
nimself at the horses feet. and aids a
young woman to descend The toll
figure. with its long, loose wran NJ
priceless blue fox and its aureole Of
wonderful red hair, Is well known IN
st. petersburg. She is the pr,ncoss
Eiisaveta Palorna. the beauty Of three
seasons. Repine follows her. Jrnder
her little fur cap, with his iewe,ad foz
Veta's eyes look out. serene imnene,
trable A bell sounds and SILENCE falls
on the waiting multitude. From omen
gates stream dozen or more horses
harnessed to light sleds of gilded osier
They are pure blooded Arabians thick-
set mustangs from the steppes and
highly bred Orloffs with sweeping
names. white and shiny as spun glass
The people watch these prelimina-
rles alphabetically. They are waiting
Tor 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 500 workers
take up their task Of sweeping away
the powdered ice beaten up by the iron
hoo1s. 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 Finlanders, with shaggy
coats and tails that sweep the ground.
The last corners are Orloff stations.
white and dazzling as the snow itself.
Their short hair glistens as though
oiled, and silver reflections shadow
their smooth TANKS and elegant necks:
their mouths are black and their nos
trlls immense, quivering and rose lined:
their eyes, tender. yet prominent and
full Of fire, are circled by sooty ring,
like those of the Asiatic women. They
are the pets of the hour There they
stand. the nine superb creatures, con-
trolled by a splendid discipline that
does not permit the most timid paving
of their impatient hoofs and with over
100000 eyes admiring their matchless
perfection.
Three sorry horses, emaciated and
sad, splashed with mud and covered
with ragged harness, half string, half
leather, advance slowly into the arena.
Behind them trails a clumsy vehicle
made from the bark of the Russian fir
tree and shaped like the Laplander's
hunting sled. With dropping heads
and dragging limbs the weary beasts
come forward and place themselves be-
side their aristocratic predecessors. A
cry of horror rises up from the crowd.
Leaning back in her box, Veta 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
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 tie astonish their hackers
are the Orlotf stations, veritable Won
ders of beauty and breed.
Finally, following at long distance
behind their royal leaders. are the three
strange beasts with their Laplandish
sled. They run irregularly, and their
little thin bells give out a 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. \ 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 an iron hand and gives 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 a moment they run
beside the white stations.
''The Orloffs leadr' screams the null
titude, then shudders
Beyond the shapely heads of the
city's favorites stretched six dark,
pointed ears. to be followed by three
heads with glaring eyes and foaming.
blood tecked jaws.
With her body stretched half out Of
her box Veta watches them with fasci-
mating eyes. Her chest heaves her
limbs tremble. and her face takes on
the anguish of the laborins brutes.
Don't worry" whispers Repine
They will lose"
''They will WIN" she answers hoarse-
ly. Il know them"
''The Orloffs gain" says somebody in
the next box.
"Ah." groals Veta and bites her Iip
to the blood.
Once more the peasants whistle
startles the still air. and With pro-
digious effort his horses leave the 9th
ers behind. Transferred by the wax
in. of their unknown blood carried
away by secret ecstasy. with foaling
names and sonorous breath. they rush
on toward the expected goal.
They reach it-victorious winners
three lengths.