The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1902-07-24
ODD GYMKHANA RACES.
Novel Fete Held at Mrs. Trenor
Parks Country Seat.
GOOSE RACE A FUNNY EVENT.

Society Women Played the Role of
Fowl Drivers For Charity's Sake
Near White Plains, N. Y.-Exciting
Egg and Spoon Race One of the
Amusing Features.
Stony Void sanitarium is the richer
by $1,000 and Westchester county, N.
Y, several thousand laughs the mer-
rier through the holding of a gymkhana
the other afternoon on the grounds OF
Mr.. Trenor L. Park, near White Plains,
N. Y. 1t is to be here recorded that
Mrs. ]. Borden Hartman won an egg
cup by excelling the exploits Of the
late Mr.. Columbus-that geese were
raced upon webbed and unwilling feet
to victory and that one of the most
stirring potato races ever seen was
witnessed on the green slopes on which
Hillcrest stands, says the New York
Herald.
All the gentry of the country were
there, and the grand stand and the
coaches were filed by women whose
names are well known in society. The
gymkhana was organized under the di-
rection of Mrs. Park, and she displayed
such generalship that there was not a
tagging moment. The hour for begin
ming was a quarter past o'clock. An
hour before that time coaches, brakes,
surveys and all manner of one, two
and four horsepower vehicles arrived
at the gates. The women wore eN
quisite summer gowns, and the men
were mostly in their riding clothes.
A track had been moved clean in one
Of the great meadows, and around this
quarter mile ellipse the competitors in
the various contests took their course.
First OF all was the Gretna Green
race, a lesson in rapid clipping of the
kind which was fashionable before the
days of the telegraph. Young ladies
and gentlemen mounted ponies, joined
hands as they rode to a given point
where the obliging parson was sup
posed to be. They signed a register,
remounted and then went back again
to seek the forgiveness of relenting
parents. The first prize was won by
Miss Haight and Mr.. E. S. Reynal, the
second by Miss Catlin and Nj. H. N.
Potter and the third by Mrs. Potter
and Mr. N. c. ReynaL
The quarter mile dash for ponies
was won by Trump, ridden by Miss
Haight. The second prize fell to
Broncho. guided by Miss Catlin, and
Avc To rfi r,Sc
third. The half mile dash for hacks.
carrying 165 pounds, resulted as fol-
lows: First, Post Horn, ridden by Mr..
Louis Baetger; second, Colonel, piloted
by Mr.. Louis Fitzgerald; third, Pea
cock, on whose back was Mr.. Pea
body.
Then IN the stirring race Of the
spoons and eggs, which was in the ma
ture Of scramble, the young wom-
en- with the best spoons and the stead
lest hands were winners. The fair
contestants, with their sleeves rolled
up, were mounted on horses. Each
balanced an egg on tablespoon with
more or less accuracy. Many ovoids
fell to the ground, but none met the
fate of Humpty Dumpty, for they were
of porcelain The first prize, a hand
some silver cup, was awarded to Mrs.
Hartman. and the second fell to Miss
Catlin.
IndigeStible tuberS figured largely in
the next contest, for the so called po-
tatoes looked strangely like polo balls.
The first prize was won by Master
Theodore Rutter, who rode Shetland
pony three feet high, and therefore
he did not have far to stoop in quest
of the objects which were scattered
over the ground Mr. E, S. Reynal
was second. His pony, as though in.
spired by perverse nature, kicked
over the pail as fast as the rider de-
posted the potatoes.
Best of all was the goose race Fiji
teen young women and little girl,
the daughter Of Mrs Hartman, drove
geese over the greensward. Ribbons
We're attached to the wings of each of
the fowls, and then, after much jockey
ing for start, all Of the birds began
the race. Each one squawked and
tapped it's wings as though the fate Of
Rome depended upon it's efforts. Many
of them rebelled against being placed
in silken harness. Others lay down in
the tracks of their expansive feet and
refused to move. Half of the num-
Der, however, knew that there was u
race in progress, and they ran with all
speed, using their wings to aid them.
There were several collisions. aad
cries of "Foulv' filed the air.
The birds driven by Miss Margaret
Cooley and Mrs William Caswell were
neck and neck. Mrs. Eugene S. ReynaI
drove her goose half way down the
course when the creature became sud-
denly as heavy as though it were of
the variety esteemed more in tailor
shops than in poultry yards and re-
fused to go another step. Two of the
birds stopped with the race half done
to remove each others plumage. Six
got Into a tangle of silk ribbons and
webbed feet and were with difficulty
extricated. The goal was reached first
by Miss Cooley's Joan of Arc; Mrs.