The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-01-11
A STORY OF A HORSE DEAL
OLD TIME REMISIsoESoE OF
 MEN AND TRADING STOCK.

Good and Bad Animals Disposed Of
 About Local Men and Horsss-Notes
 ofInterest Copied From the Trotter
 and Pacer.
 Sitting at my desk this evening I have been thinking of old times; my thoughts having run back more than 8 score of years. and have just decided to put story in shape for printing, as I understand the old-time stories are much appreciated. Imprimis, the cir cumstanees I am about to relate has the merit of truthfulness.
 Among my acquaintances at the time referred to was John H. Howarth, deal- CT in boots and shoes on Chapel street, in this city, not far from State street. Mir. Howarth died several years ago. He was genial, pleasant gentleman and an interesting talker; so much so that I still remember distinctly many of his remarks. I used to listen to him, thinking that I frequently gained some valuable information from his conver- sation. At one time he told me he had a cure for heaves. After he had cured a horse of that complaint, the owner stated that his horse had never had the heaves; the trouble was something else. In those days horses that were troubled with the heaves elsewhere, did not have the trouble after being in this city for a time
 In his day MT. Howarth owned some fine horses, several of them being his property many years previous to my best acquaintance with him. MT. How arth owned Lady Lightfoot at time when either 2:30 or 2:40 was creditable i time for a half-mile track. This mare trotted a mile in 2:3S on the local track which was so satisfactory to Dan Green that he bought the trotter on the spot. He afterward sold her to Dan Mace for three thousand dollars, and Mace sold her for seven thousand dollars. MT. Howarth's horses were trained on the track and driven in races by his son Edward, very gentlemanly young man and an expert reinsman.
 During the later years of his life the elder Howarth bought horse of a gang of horse traders that infested this city with their presence. As I remember the men and boys in the party, there were four or five of them and about six teen or more horses. From several trades that the men made in New Ha- ven it appeared that they swindled any one that they could, but if the cheated man came back and threatened to make them trouble, the gang would make the trade partly satisfactory, and enough so to keep out of trouble. The horses that the traders brought here were all sorts; some of them were worth but little and properly called trading. stock" while others were very valuable-in fact some of the best ever brought to this mar ket selected two; bought them in short order and tried them afterwards. Both horses proved much better than I anticipated. The memory of those two horses is as pleasing as agreeable recol- lections of old and true friends. How arth was not so fortunate. I came near having trouble with the traders, but not on account of the pair.
 One of the traders q have forgotten his name, but will call him Stevens), showed Mr. Howarth bay mare that the two men had a long ride after until Howarth was satisfied and bought the horse. The next day he started for a. ride with his recent purchase, The mare started from the yard, drew the light wagon to the gutter, threw up her hp. .n+ <nn1r tx, L lI.s II baked; she wouldn't go an inch further, although her driver managed as pru- dent and carefully as any one could, while the new horse was watched by members of the owners family and many neighbors at windows and on the sidewalk near MT. Howarth's residence, which was on Fair street at that time. Several young fellows who were pass ing began to make as much fun as pos- sible.
 Sell him to Dan Green" said one. said another.
 He's fast said another.
 Hold your watch on tine mile," said. one of the crowd.
 Time him by the depot clock, said a youngster.
 By the way, the depot clock in the high tower on the old depot was visible from many streets, and was favorite landmark in those days. It was very accurate and served the people for years, until in a double sense it was a time-honored institution Its removal was universally regretted. After the clock was removed 1t was ten years be- fore all the business men in that section fully overcame the habit of looking at that tower for the time of day or night.
 But to return to the gentleman and his unruly beast. After the very balky horse had made show of herself and MT. HoWarth, he unhitched her, took her to his stable and started for Ste- vens. When the two met the trader commenced an argument to prove posi- lively that the mare was not balky While MT. Howarth asserted that she was Said Stevens:
 You saw how well she drove yester- day.'
 But she is balky to-day said How arth.
 She wasn't balky when you bought her. said the horse trader.
 When she baked with me this mornng,'' said the boot and shoe man. T was the laughing-stock for a crowd of fellows on the sidewalk; they will all testify for me if want them to-,
 rTo ft,ic tha hnrca 1aa1ar ray1iad x,.1,