The San Francisco call., 1905-06-04
Belgian King Has
Two Hundred
Horses.
Aged Ruler Not Afraid
to Mount Fiery
Animals.
j. Pierpont Morgan While in
London Will Sit for
His Portrait.
Special Gable 70 me can.

LONDON. June liking Edward and
the Emperor Of Germany are generally
supposed TO carry OF the palm among
royalty for fine horses. but few people
know the extent OF the stables Of the
King Of Belgium There are now at
least two hundred steeds there Six
teen OF them are saddle horses nd all
thoroughbreds. especially imported by
his Majesty. either from England or
Limoges A few years ago q gray mare
from Berlin was added 10 the number.
for which s25oe was paid. but she was
quickly discarded The carriage horses
are half-bred En- ns,ish-Norman. sturdy
and well and strongly built
King Leopold is himself q very fine
horseman. and. unlike many of his
brother nonarchs. he disdains 70 mount
horse which has alrady been spe-
cially ridden and fatigued beforehand
Hardly viii he allow his mount 10 be
exercised the previous day. so much
does he love 10 feel the animal in full
spirits. Last year al Ostend he was
often 70 be seen riding q beautiful
black horse. his latest favorite. called
GentiIle pretty. He boasts that.
though z fearless rider, he has never
had fall he is so tall that his sad
die has 10 be specially built for him.
His love for automobiles has in no way
destroyed his fondness for riding and
ne. Is often 70 be seen on horseback
soon after daybreak
PECULIAR ARMY METHODS.
Some day the army council. whose
appointment awakened such great ex-
Pectstions. may tackle in earnest the
Job OF reforming the British army.
which affords the poorest return for
The money expended on il of any
army IN the world But apparently il
viii take q long tine before il gets
around 70 II Last week the board de-
voted much earnest consideration 10 the
question Of the painting Of barrack
bed-cots, and finally reached the deci-
sion that those Of single soldiers should
be given one coat Of paint. and those
for married soldiers two. Another
point settled at the expense of z great
consumption of cerebral gray matter
was that when an army mop was ex-
changed the nail in the head need rot
be handed back into store These mo-
meutoEs decisions were duly promul-
gated in army orders
MILLIONAIRE As GOOD ANGEL.
When James r. Smith of New York.
who inherited the bulk OF the great
fortune left by his uncle. Chicago
Smith, leased Hurley Park, near Win
chester. people of the old cathedral city
tool but q languid interest in his ad-
vent They believed him an American
Who had some surplus cash. but not
much of it. and was not al all disposed
10 part with IL freely Mr.. Smith did
nothing 70 disabuse their minds of this
impression He seemed 10 care little
for the old place and was seldom seen
there But since he has had as his
guests mis- sister. Mrs Cooper. and her
husband. popular opinion has under
gone a change regarding the extent OF
his resources and muaifcence- He is
doing things in regulation American
through the Ccopers. One Winchester
storekeeper says that their custom
means an additional $4,000 year in his
receipts other shopkeepers are re-
soicing in the profit derived from their
patronage Mr. Smith is now regarded
as Winchester's good angel
HEIREss WITH PLUCK
Lady Mary Douglas-H Hamilton. only
daughter and heirness OF the late Duke
OF Hamilton viii nexf month assume
the rnsstership OF the Hamilton-Harriers
in Herefordshire- Ii is z somewhat un-
usual position for a woman 20 occupy. al
though she has some predecessors in the
field Lady Mary IS devoted to horses
and hunting and has inherited all the
sporting tastes of her father, the twelfth
Duke. At Esston, her place in Suffolk.
there is stsbling for fifty horses. She is
a fearless rider 10 hounds and is not de-
TERED from taking any risks by the
knowledge that il is very precious neck
that she endaneers- Her Inheritance in
cluces the island of Arran IN Scotland.
some 10000 acres in extent. fine prop
erty in Suffolk and considerable sum in
cash. She VIII be twenty-one next No
vember and seems in no hurry TO en-
gage herself 20 any Of her numerous
suitors He will be a lucky man who wins
her. bur he VIII have TO convince her
that ne is q plucky one first Whatever
accomplishments he may possess. he viii
have 70 be first rate sportsman
PAINTER AWAITS MORGAN.
J. Pierpont Morgan IS expected in Lon
ton soon when he viii give sittings 10 J.
J. Shannon for his portrait. which is be-
ing painted under commission from some
American society. This Is the first time
Mr. Morgan ever sat 10 2 painter. and
his friends cannot imagine how he was
induced 10 do so. He has been greatly
concerned since his arrival in Europe
about the health of Sir Clinton Dawkirs
head OF the European house. Sir Clinton
had a bad nervous breakdown. and al
first his recovery vas almost despaired
Of. but after. awhile he got sufficiently
well 70 be removed 20 the Italian lakes,
where he now Is making very slow prog
ress.