The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-04-12
WELL-DRESSED HORSES.
LAWS WHICH GOVERN IN MATTERS
OF EQUINE GOOD TASTE,

4
Breakfast = Rules Not to Be Violated.
TO those who deplore the extremes
tc which it is pretty generally con-
ceded the Independent American citi-
zen goes in matters OF dress, it may
be comforting to know that the Amer
lean horse, at least, is coming to be
looked upon as one of the best and
at the same time one of the most
properly dressed horses in the world.
says the New York Post. And. when
1t understood that a horse without
the least difficulty on its owners part
may appear in the park and on the
ooulevards in attire as shocking as
diamonds at breakfast. it will be the
better realized what this means. That
there are still fragrant violations of
the laws which govern matters of
equine good taste goes without saying,
but they merely serve to furnish the
contrast by which the general i'm
provement is made more marked.
| TO the hoIse-show associations,
more than to anything else, may De
attributed this advancement in the
proper housings of the American horse
of fashion and the correct appoint
ments for park traps ard road turn
cuts. In establishing classes in which
the appointments Of the entries must
betaken into consideration blythe judg-
es In making their awards, the associa-
ton has set definite standard of
fashion. An owner, for example,
whose pair of brougham horses are
turned down latter the Judge has
weeded out the entire class down to
his pair and one other). because his
brass-mounted harness is equipped
with steel instead of brass kidney
links, learns next time to understand
the Importance of these little niceties
OF detail. And it is the attention to
or the ignoring of these apparently
Insignificant details that make a park
horse either smart" or ridiculous.
The black rosettes, for instance,
when used on the bride as emblems
OF mourning, are considered improper,
unless a plain black brow band is
substituted for the ornament one orig
1nally on the harness. The saddle
housings, if in color. should likewise
be changed. In this city it has become /.
an unwritten law that the rosettes
snail be of the same shade with the
carriage trimmings, but in London and
in Paris this rule is not observed. In
those cities violets AMI other flowers
are frequently substituted for the
orthodox silk rosette.
AS In matters to masculine attire,
London likewise sets the styles in
fashionable harnesses. There is a
wellknown importer of horse-furnish-
ings who has successfully introduced
several new fashions into this country
by first making them popular in Lon
don, where he has another store. Pos |
s.bly the most conspicuous case of this |
kind was that of the Swiss collar |
which he offered as substitute for |
the English collar, which had original
y supplanted former Swiss importa-
lions. The new collar was made with
an extremely broad breast-plate and |
TWO heavy brass sterrets. AS a light
harness, it has now almost
succeeded the old one.
The French quarter-blanket made
u leather has likewise largely taken
he place of the English broadcloth
blanket. 1t is cut shorter than the
english AFFAIR, and is intended to
'rotect only the horses loins, and
bus In no way impede the movements
!. his hips. Harnesses, according to
his Broadway importer, are divided,
Ike mems garments, into two classes
dress and understand to appear in
he park with victoria and an IN
ress harness-which becomes I'M
ress If the kidney links are of steel
'hen the other mounting is brass. or
Then the bearing reins do not CON-
orm to the general ensembles as
npardonable as appearing on the
treet in an evening coat and russell
hoes.
Strangely enough" said the impor-
r, Il find that the tendency here is
'wards ultra conservatism. There il
OF the same latitude permitted here
'day that you will find in London.
his Is especially true of the brough- .
ms and heavy park vehicles. There :
most any color is permissible in the (
INNINGS of a victoria or landau.
ere no one seems to dare employ
ny color other than black; and the |
lme thing holds true of the housings. /;
he use of pole-chains here when
'ryant Is driving is an offence which
objectionable in any civilized coun- l
y. Pole-straps with polished buckles t
e alone permissible The pole G
lains were made with a view of 4
ldfng smartness to the turnout. and a
ey should only be used to a trap in /
hich a gentleman may do the driv-
g. 1t is not good form either to h
we quarter-blankets of one color and v
'usings of another, nor is 1t any Ion O
r the thing to use large monograms n
them. We cannot revolutionize t
e styles in harnesses as tailor may c
tn his wares. We are fortunate If
: can change with every four or five a
ars." .
In four-in-hand turnouts-no doubt 6
pm the character OF its patrons it
probably easier to offend the pro-
leties than in any other department
which the horse plays part. There u
little nice.ies IN appointment and II
pertinent, so. finely drawn that to IL
serve Or to ignore them either e
lkes old friends enemies or e+roro it
J friends. There is one school that a
lieves in driving with tae left hand "a
Id on level with the chest. The II
Ter school drives with low hand. L
GERS at the former method and calls II
driving in front of your scarf pin" e
e scarf pin advocates answer that II
work four after this manner is te
re difficult. and consequently is m
re of an accomplishment. There III