New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-16
and Bronx lnnkeepers Regret Old Noao Nacns lays
Pictures of Famous Men and
Horses Still Adorn Old
Tavern Walls.

But to return to Smiths. The building IA
wellnigh without paint, It is so long since
the owner had a brushful applied The
bay window at the angle is askew. The
veranda running along the front has rip
ping floor and roof lines that remind one
Of raft on a rolling sea. The floor is 50
rotten that one fears to tread upon II. The
interior Of the building, however, holds A
surprise. Evidently II has not been
changed since the Judge" died upward OF
a quarter OF a century ago. The height OF
the rooms suggests their former magnih-
cence and upon the walls are still 10 b.
seen the paintings and other pictures hung
there in the days when this roadhouse was
in its prime. The paintings are chiefly OF
trotting horses and their drivers, although
there are landscapes In every picture tho
horses are shown pressing with vigor on"
in the manner so familiar before the days
of instantaneous photography. The spokes
Of the slender bodied buggies fash in 4
blur Of motion.
II YOU are the right sort Of person, ani
the thoroughbred grayhounds which stalk
around the place at will do not have diff.
ferent opinion, the younger OF the two Irish
adjoining the bar, and point out picture
of w. H. Vanderbilt driving a pair This
Is the story she tells about IL:
One day in Judge" Smiths time, Mr..
Vanderbilt was driving his team past the
judges when an old man, paying no at
tention to the approach Of the fast horses,
started across the road The horses struck
him. and he was injured so badly that he
died six months afterward Naturally the
accident caused some excitement and
crowd gathered Mr.. Vanderbilt approached
Smith and asked what he could do to COM
pensate him for the disturbance he had
caused in front of his place
Let us have a picture Of the team"
the Judge" replied.
Some time afterward," the daughter Of
Newcastle says, in concluding the ac-
count. Mr.. Vanderbilt gave Mr. Smith
this painting. I suppose It must have cost
500"
On the wall at the end Of the bar room
is a faded picture representing General
Grant and Robert Bonner seated in
buggy behind Dexter. Grant is shown driv-
ing. and II is labelled: Taking the Reinsr
Taking the reins in the case Of Dexter
meant something, II one can trust tbs
memory Of a septuagenarian, who remerS-
bers him. for he is reported TO have been
in the boiling class. AT the opposite end
of the room is a series Of photographs Of
actresses famous a score Of years ago
some are still on the active list, including
Sarah Bernhard. Lillian Russell, Mary
Anderson. Ellen Terry and Mrs Langtry
Sibben's used to accommodate those who
chose to pass Judge" Smiths. This was
further TO the north, about two miles from
the bridge, and is still standing.
BILLY" Florence and Durando, the latter
being still actively interested in entertain
ing those who drive the swift roadsters,
were among the other roadhouse keepers
of a generation ago.
Talk about your automobiles" said
Durando the other day, when in reminis-
cent mood, but give me pair Of long
tailed horses for beauty"
II one may believe the lovers Of trotting
and pacing horses, their day is not yet
past, notwithstanding the automobile.
| They report that never was there more In
terest in the racing OF these types Of ami
mails by real lovers Of horsehesh, and that
| this years meets will demonstrate It.