New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-17
THE HORSE IN FICTION.
Some Notes for Those Visiting the
Shoe Noe Open.
in The Author.

II. A Dryden, in The Author.
Though poets and novelists have in countless
works written in vague and general praise or
the horse when one begins TO oeiVe INTO par
ticulars one realizes THAI the writer OF fiction
has, a rule, been always rather shy OF TINS
subject The novelist ana the poet nave MOI
one begins 10 discover. much real acquaintance
with horses and hOrsemanship snd a survey OF
the literature Of the last century almost con-
vinces one that writers. class. prefer to
leave the achievements Of the noblest Of all DO
tnesticated animals rather severely alone Few
creators Of romance have, in fact. cared 10 par
ticularize on a subject which, adequately oeaII
with offers many attractions.
Byron. il is true strikes stirring note IN the
poem Of "MaZeppa,' that spirited ana romantic
setting OF an old Polish or Cossack tradition
Byron gathered his materials for 'Mazeppa
from TOltaire's History OF Charles XII and
makes his hero. the aged Hetman Of the Ukraine
Cossacks recount his terrible ride to Charles
on the night following the disastrous battle OF
young Polish gentleman. detected in an intrigue
with the wife of a Count Of Podolia- is seized.
hound TO the back Of an unbroken horse fresh
from the Wlcs OF Ukraine, ana driven IorJh INTO
the forest and the wilderness. The tale is finely
told in ByrOn's best manner, yet when one be
gins TO inquire closely into the particulars one
RDSs fho+ roa-ical license has been somewhat
too freely made Of. For two days and
nights. according 10 Byron Mazeppa's steed
carries him in a career so headlong that even
she tireless wolves which pursue them are left
behind Now. wolves. il is well known. Viii run
down the best horse in the world; while any
nne who is acquainted with horses and their ca
liabilities viii bear out the writer in his affirma-
ton that no horse ever foaled could pursue
rapid fight. unchecked. for fOrty-eight hours.
However. at the end OF that time. even the steed
portrayed by Byron begins TO fag. He swims
with his burden across mighty river. and pres
emily sinks down upon the Ukraine steppe.
where Mazeppa is rescued and unbound by
natives OF that wild district. Among these
people the hero makes his home. in years 10
rome rising TO the position Of HetInan or Prince
Of the Ukraine COssacks
Sir Walter Scott understood horses probably
a good deal better than did Byron. and in the
~ chase o
stag, reused IN Glenartney Forest. IS with first
rate horse feasible enough Fitzjames, how
ever. appears 20 have been more enthusiastic
hunter than he was good horse master, and.
having overridden his good gray from Glen
Grtney 10 the shores Of Loeb Katrine. the gen
e-oUs beast yields up its life, and stretched Its
EtiR limbs TO rise no more" Scott. however,
paints incident that stin occasionally hap
pens. even IN fox hunting, and his knowledge
OF the ground described and Of the limits Of
horses endurance has prevented him from de-
picting the impossible in his spirited account OF
the great run with a Glenartney stag.
Harrison Ainsworth's well known description
Of Dick Turpin's ride to York almost rescues
Lockwood" from the region Of rather cheap
nelOdrana- Turpin. Of course. never performed
the ride IN question, a ride. Ainsworth de-
Ecribes 81 probably far beyond the limits OF any
single horses endurance. Nevertheless. so well
Is the famous highwayrnan's RaIlop described,
nno so much pains has the novelist displayed in
the management OF this part OF his tale, that
good Black Bess and her immortal course Will
probably live IN fiction 10 delight schoolboys for
generations yet 20 come.
Among English novests Whyte Melville GER
ta1nly knew more about horses and their capa-
bilities than any other. In ''Katerfelto" he has
made the highwayman's gray nag OF which
John Garrett becomes possessed, almost as
much the hero Of his tale the man who be-
strides Il. The hunt Exrnoor is excellently
well done, and Katerfeltos leap for freedom a
leap which saves his master and IS the undo
Ing OF Parson Gale and his black gelding Cas-
sock. IS admirably set forth. The stallion Kater-
felro, according TO Whyte Melville is never
again captured. and becomes the semi-feral pro-