Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1906-01-08
Two HORSES IHAT DIVE.


They Seem TO Enjoy the Fun as Much as
Their Audiences.
st. Nicholas
The intelligence displayed by ma ny
of our animals, both wild ana
domestic, is surprising. Dogs and
horses, especially, from THAR long
association with man, and because of
their natural temperament, can be
taught great many interesting and
beautiful tricks. We have ali seen
dogs carrying bundles, papers, or
baskets along the street, and know
how faithful they are 70 their charges
neither stopping to play with ctheTs
OF their kind, nor allowing anyone
but their master to reiieve them of
their burden. Other ieats that these
faithful creatures often perform are
" Begging, rolling over" walking
and dancing en- their hind legs, and
jumping over sticks OF through the
arms. II lfses, besides performing many
ieats which are taught them, often
show considerable intelligence in I'M
iaeteEinR gates OF letting doWn bars
80 that they may escape from the
pasture.
One of the most beautiful feats that
l have ever seen performed by horses
ia tho high diving by King" and
Queen. These TWO beautiful ami
mails we're raised on a western Ameri.
can farm; they are both snowy white
and perfectly formed. King has dark,
lustrous eyes, while his mate has light
blue ones; both have pinkish muzzles,
aud both are kept Immediately clean
and carefully groC med, as such valuable
animals should be.
It iH said that th0y we're kept in
pastures on the opposite sides Of
river, the bank on the side on which
King was kept being high and over
hanging the water. Both animals
had always shown a fondness for
the water, and one would often
make the plunge into the river
and swim across to join its mate.
i rom watching this performance was
conceived the idea of training them to
exhibit 10 public, an idea which was
carried cut with the greatest success.
A "kn7ok down. staging was con-
atructod, aud is carried about with
the horses and used at every per-
Torrance; it has an incline of about
30 degrees, aud the top is about 80
feet above the water; about two feet
below the top platform is a small one,
on which the horses place their feet
just before making the plunge; this
IS 20 that their bodies may take a
more vertical position, and that they
may strike the water with the least
resistance.
They require about II feet Of water
in which 10 make their dive. They
are most often shown at places where
there Is a natural body Of water for
the purpose; but frequently a pit is
dug, ana the bottom covered with
canvas which is filled with Water, and
M this improvised tank they do theiI
'stunt" twice daily-in the afternoon
and evening.
The two horses are stationed at the
I point where they are to leave the
water, and one Of them, usually Queen
/ first, is led TO the foot Of the incline.
| With q toss OF her head, she quickly
runs to the top of the staging, looks
Z over TO see 81 the course 10 clear. then
without hesitation drops her fore feet
/ Go the small platform and makes the
leap. They strike the water with their
fore feet extended and the head thrown
/ back on the shoulders, so that the
shock is not unduly great. They are
! under water frcm three 10 six seconds
then, with a shake of the head tc
clear the water from she eyes, each
makes for the spot where the mate il
standing. King is apparently proudeI
and mote deliberate than Queen; he
goes up the incline slowly, ana pause.
at the top to look about at the crowd
Of people below, often WINNING,
apparently 20 attraot attention 60 him
self. lie makes the more graceful div,
Of the two, keeping his fore feet
atraight, while Queen has hers doubled
vixen IN the air. AS soon as they CONF
from the water they are rubbed dry,
covered with blankets, aud led &
the stable, where they are carefully
eroomed.
Occasionally we find some one who
thinks it is cruel &c "maken horse.
dive from such a height; but the faol
is that they do not appear 70 dislike ii
az all, and they certainly like 20 be il
the water. how much more iortunat,
ara they than many OF their kind thai
have 20 do the hardest sort Of uorl
from morning until night, and OTTER
urOn soanty or insufficient rations
These horses have the best OF care, III,
best OF iood, and plenty If exercise
ard apparently are In the best O
health and humor. They have beer
exhibited from the Atlantic to tn,
facih' Ocean and in Europe.