The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-05-01
AMATEUR SPOUTSMEN OF NOTE
AN HEIR To THE LOVE 90 OPEN
AIR PASTIWES.

One % tho younger men prominent In
opan air recnpations has attained his
distinction by right Of inheritanOs. He
comes from American fOrebeaS and h
. typs Of the amateur who h always
doing things. Over the partition doors
that divide his once high up in a down
town skyscraper hangs the sisFnboard
Of Yankee packet bearing his name.
els grandfather owned IL and was proud
10 call the craft the Joseph r. Thomas.
The ship and others sailed 10 many distant
aaas and natives u many strange lands
have tried 10 spell out the name. On the
ofloe walls of tho present. Joseph B.
Thomas Il keeps ever fresh the thoughts
Of the ssa and sailors and Of the Joy Of
cruising.
In these days. however. the voyages are
aboard fine yachts or big liners. His
fathsr until he became president Of tho
p. Andrews Golf Club and an enthusiasts,
on tho making and upkeep Of q links
put IN his vacations on one % his yachts,
10 ct one time had three In commission.
but In taking up golf he changed to the
most nveterate Of lAndsmen and the
influence oi the New England ship owner
was lost in the destinations % the old
scotch game. He died last summer and
thssurvivor is AZ this time the last Of his
name.
An uncle. Washington B. Thomas, was
Formerly the president Of the United
States Golf Association and Ia stu an
occasional golfer. but when Joseph b.
Thomas gets over the turf IL il on the hack
AZ a polo pony or a thoroughbred racer
Odd. he hanks beck 90 the call o. the SEA
through his grandfather, but the iavorite
game Of his nearer relatives does not APP
peal 10 him. Yet the male lima has been
fresh air brigade. always and often. and
ne bearer Of me name with his brother
Rnlph finds the love Of outdoor pastimes
sbred T. the bone
Joseph b. Thomas began az Berkeley
IN lnterschOlastio sports. specializing in
track work. tho broad and high Jumps.
Ne kept this up at Yale and was the cap
tain of the track team. carrying out some
International sallies in Canadian and
EngliAh sports. While still at the varsity
he became a gentleman farmer. an unusual
experiment for Yale junior. on q prop
srty a. SimSbuTy. Conn. the home town
a thai States war Governor.
Hs went in first for fine poultry and
ourksys after a visit 10 France. making a
speciality a FavOnelles. The breed had
phase In the American Standard OF Per.
fection.' the official ranking book Of all
poultry breeds. before the importatiOns
~ the Yale junior and they are In favor in
Tho middle West a. a utility breed. In
France the FavOrellea ara the cottage
breed. just ~ the DOvkings are in rural
kRgland. and the peasants prefer them
Tor mess or as egg producers % the Hou-
dams OF CrSyecRurs.
After Whiis the Plymouth Rocks
supplanted the Favoiclles at Simsbury,
the place now being Chrs.ened Valley
Farm. He has the place yet and the
aame manager stall. Thomas votes from
there and has twice represented the
district in the Connections Legislature
There are many fine horses on the farm
and other live stock a. well as poultry
but the place IL most conspicuous for the
Russian wolfhounds kept there when
they are not AZ bench shows or In the
West with the owner chasing wolves or
coyotes. Farming would seem a good
stunt for a college boy.
One % the incidents Of Simsbury life
was 70 set up a road coach from there
20 the Hartford Golf Club. where the
Taoonic Polo Club held weekly matches
Road coaching In the United States 10
on the style Of tho English coaching days.
70 perpetuate the romance. traditions and
sport Of the road In the time Of mail
coaches. form OF history lacking In this
country where the had roads made wagons
the ordinary vehicle In tho early days.
Later when the Concord coaches were
widely introduced We had some well
conducted stage lines on long runs but
the swing Of the body on straps made IL
q vehicle that did not ride a. easily A.
the better built English coach. Resides
4 was built for inside rather than top
loads.
Yet defying precedents aud all the
criticisms Of the carriage makers Thomas
and his friends set up "a real American
coach. The vehicle had seen actual
service in New England and with fresh
paint and new harness was ready for the
road. A sketch - an old time American
coach by Ben All Haggin headed the
reproduction Of an old time poster 70
advertise the venture. II was a woodcut
IN script and read.
The Subscribers beg leave 70 inform
the Publick that q Syndicate has established
the safe. cheap comfortable A expeditions
stage Coach Plying Yankee 70 perform
on Saturday earh Week until notice the
whole Distance from simsbury 70 Hart
ford Ia one Day.
The Machine win leave the Post once
IN gimsbury 81 iib 0'clOck-no Delinduents
viii bs aWBits5-Weatogus Corners AZ
iik o'clock, proceeding BY TalcOtt Noun
tain Pass In one Hour and Is minutes
% the Golf Club In Hartford. where Polo
10 played on Week Ends. and Passengers
may he accomm odatcd With Genteel Board
Ths Return az 50 O'Clock.
Passengers will be taken NJ or aet down
Whsre they wish. Fare for Travellers IN
the Coach ~ Dollars. for outside Travel
lsfu Dollars; TO this Ia more 10 the Price
for round Journey. Way Passengers One
shilling per Mile. IL lbs Baggage gratis
$50 Vt. rated same o. Passengers. seats
may be had By applying &C the House Of
The Subscribers, John J. Marin. Joseph b.
Thomas. jF.. Esqrs., or N the Booking
Agent. CrnREle. 81 tho Valley Farm near
Bimsbury.
May-Day 1905
The Flying Yankee IL still occasionally
on the rad, but the Taconio Polo Club
10 longer exists. The Hartford Golf Club,
which has now fine new house. Is the
oafmination % the drives from Slmsbury
IL was q pleasant experience 70 fly in the
faca OF coaching customs and % set up an
outflt In the Yankee style
In 1893. while a Yale senior, Thomas
visited Russia and brought back the
Russian wOlfhOunds that were the start
~ tho Valley Farm Kennels. Some were
from the kennel % the Grand Duke, the
nth0ru from the establishment Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Artem BOldereh % WoronzOva.
1amDon. Russia. Inc Russian WOifhound
Club % America. Of which Thomas IL the
president. came into existenos In 1919,
and the breed. which was at a standstili