The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-05-06

ouaintance with the late P. T.. Barr mum, James H. Bailey, c. B. BunneL, and other famous showmen of the past and present generation
 Major Burke made his headquarters at the Stratfield. Its not much like the old Sterling House. unused the major refniniscently. I remember one of my last visits at the Sterling Horfse when P. T. .Barnum and G. B. Bunnell and I dined on sea food, talk distinctly that MT. Barnum was very fond of pin fish and insisted upon being served with extra portion. We had -clams and bulls heads, frogs legs and other seafood, most of it taken from Bridgeport harbOr.
 The Stratfield is an elegant hotel. But my friend Griswold ought to .pro- vide taxicab service to take the guests through the ColUnnade to the dining room Then he ought to install first class gfiiE room, and serve some real food; then he would have one of the finest hostelries in the east
 "Yes, Bridgeport is growing beyond the fondest expectations of the men used to know here score of years ago.. continued the major. NIt's the most remarkable development T have ever witnessed in an eastern city. Bridgeport is now suburb of New York city and the Atlantic ocean, '' said the major. <
 Major Burke is rich in the lore of the plains, for he like Col. Cody was among the scouts of the early days O. frontier fife. He detailed many in teresting "reminiscences, among which the following famous horse race will bear repeating.
 Horse racing has been called '"rhe Sport of Kings Nearly all persons, though of the red cOrpuscle breed, ad- mfre horses and horsemanship, when A q aay horse, a daring and graceful rider make a glorious picture, and one that long hangs in the halls of memory.
 Horsemanship,- in its perfection. is most fascinating, and> has been since the horse was first associated with man. From time immemorial, the cavalier and his Rosenants have stood out prominently as the symbol of the heroic in war, in high stations in the pastimes of peace, of the romantic in courtly tournaments, and in seeking honors in the chase. Mankind and a. certain extent worshipped-dash, daring and skill in the rider and style, action. ginger and intelligence in the animal From the tournaments of the Knightly era. has this been so, down to the times when this vast continent became a colossal field, arena and school that necessitated it's acquisition was part of the method of existence It's >most proficient opponents have been developed in the west in the Am- erican Cowboy and now the U. S. Cav alryman is close second and Denver and Cheyenne have been accorded the palm as arenas where the cavalier Of the prairie win their highest honors, and the points to which the world re- fers when horsemanship is discussed. But the seed from which this crop of equestrians have grown was the old time red and white rivers of the Plains, when skill in rider and speed in horse was the adjunct to skill with rife and strategy in the game of saw age war-ins wi hich the. stakes were vic tory or cruel, death by torture.
 General Frank Baldwin, Capt. Jack Howlands. Major J. M. Burke and a group of ancient and honorables in spired by the coming of Buffalo Bill. were discoursing on daring rides and feats when the horSeman was contest ing with the old Scythe bearer as a competitor. For the purposes of the trail, the hunt, the battle, the pur- suit or the stampede, it was essen tially necessary for a scout to select for charges with which to gain suc- cess, animals excelling in the qualities of strength, speed, docility, courage, stamina, keen scent, delicacy'. of ear, quick .-of- sight, sure footed shrewd in perception, nobleness of character, and general intelligence, history records, and a grateful memory still holds dear, numberless famous quadruped allies that Buffalo Bill has during his long career Possessed, and many are the stories told on the frontier and in the army of "Old Buekskin Joe'' Brigham, Tall Bull,' "Powder Face,' "Stran- ger" and "Oid Charlie
 General Baldwin referred to the old days when the isolated posts had such few recreations that most of them cen tered for relief from monotony to horse racing, and high betting to add new interests, and make life worth living.
 New Market, Epson, Latonia or Sheepshead Bay had no call on the touting the tipping and interest on these events Horses from one post were brought, hundreds of miles to challenge and compete with others.
 Among the noted horses, the Fifth I- s. Cavalry. had as money getting
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