Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-21


the national capital the horse has
come into his own again Whatever
49, the reason may be-whether Presi-
dent Roosevelt by his almost daily
eNt mpie has set the pace. or whether the
gods of the machine have cried their wares
too loud-is immaterlal The recrudescence
OF equestrianism is complete and the saddle.
the whip and the spur are the things to
conjure with just now.
1t wasn't so very long ago, even as time
is counted in this swiftly moving age,
when a man or woman horseback
wasn't to lie seen in many long journey
around the city. And now, in these glori-
Gus days of early spring. when the sun is
warm, the air crisp and cool and the
breezes laden with the breath of the south
land there isn't road around Washington
that doesn't daily see group of riders;
not a bride path in park or reservation
or in the woods beyond the city limits that
isn't daily travelled: not a pretty nor an
attractive spot in all the country round
about that hasn't been searched out by
thcse who have brought about or aided
or shared in the revival of one of the
finest sports known to any country and
to any age.
Perhaps, after all, it Is President Roose-
welt to whom the greatest share of credit
Is due for the revival. Certain 1t Is that
the sport Is more popular in Washington
Just now than at any time since the first
Cleveland administration. when the then
chief executive brought his young and
beautiful bride TO the White House. And
there is very close relation between those
two statements.
"As smiles the queen. smile the cour-
tiers" Mrs Cleveland chose to favor his
majesty the horse. and in those days the
people of Washington, and. for the mat
ter of that. of the country at large, had
the habit of thinking that what Mrs.
Cleveland did was just about right. She
filled the empty stalls in the White House
stables with fine saddle animals. and with
her friends took almost daily rides around
Washington. The roads around the city
were not in as good condition then as at
the present time but that didn't deter Mrs.
Cleveland. Society followed suit, and then
the revival of the sport spread until every
body who was anybody, and many who
were not, owned a saddle horse. Members
of the cabinet, department officials, gov
eminent dignitares of high and low de-
gree members of the diplomatic corps
even the butcher, the baker and the can
dlestick maker-all rode. Those were the
days when Thomas +. Bayard was Secre-
tary of State, and more enthusiastic
horseman than he has yet to be discovered
During almost all of the time that Mr.. Bay
ard was a member of the cabinet almost
every fair day him mounted his
favorite saddle horse for ride around
Washington and its confines. Sometimes
he rode alone, but often he was accom-
panied by Gen. Wade Hampton and Lieut..
Thompson the latter of Whites troop of
confederate cavalry during the civil war
splendid horsemen both, and enthusiastic
lovers of the sport as well.
Through Mr.. Bayards influence a riding
club was formed of which Mr.. Thompson
was elected president. and the building at
22d and streets was occupied as riding
school. Professor Middleton. famous New
York riding instructor. was induced to come
to Washington, and for time horseback
riding was the and only sport of tho
national capital. Then Mrs. Cleveland left
the White House, and 1t wasn't very long
after that that the horse was dethroned.
But now he has come into his own again.
and to the President is given full credit,
for the revival. that is now at it's height.
practically dates from his elevation to the
presidency as the successor of the mar
tyred Mckinley. The President. as is well
known is fond of all forms of outdoor ex-
ercise. He is a hunter of renown; he can
swing an ak like a woodman; at tennis
he is anything but a novice; at base ball
and pretty much all other outdoor games
he can more than hold his own. But he is
and has always been more fond OF horse
buck riding than of all the other forms Of
bodily exercise and mental recreation COM
bned He has been fond of horses all his
life, and out on his western ranch years
ago he learned to ride and to ride well
When he was a civil service commissioner
in Washington he spent good deal of his
spare time in the saddle, and later. as as
sistant secretary of the navy, just before
the Spanish-American war, he rode when
ever the duties OF his Office would permit.
But il is only since he has been President
that his devotion to equestrianiSm has been
the subject of any considerable comment
has served as the shining example that