The Washington times., 1917-03-03
FOUR PROUD HORSES
TODRAW PRESIDENT
King, Delight, John, and Bath
orp Will Be First Equines
in Land" Monday.
ALL HANDSOME BIG BAYS
1t You Don't Think They Feel
the Honor, Watch Them
France Down Avenue.

Four big bay horses-sleek, well
proportioned, and seemingly proud of
their unspotted lineage-stand wait
ing today, restlessly paving at the
deep bed of Clean straw which covers
the floor of their four stalls.
Within a few feet of the stalls,
watching for the slightest sign of dis
content among those horses. are sta
TONED several grooms. Zealously they
note every move of the animals, and
the man who approaches the stalls
does so with a very good reason
else he doesn't approach at all.
For these four horses are the elite
OF all horsedom today They have been
chosen to draw the carriage in which
President Wilson will sit as he is
carried to and from the Capitol on
Monday.
No Ordinary Horses
King, Delight, John, and Bathorp,
pureibred hsckneys. are to be the
'hrst equines in the land" They are
the animals of John H. Gheen, a
Washington liveryman, who has been
given the honor by the inaugural
committee of providing the horses
o4A0 O1LEAdeC AOA lhC
King, Delight, John, and Bathorp,
are no ordinary horses. Neither have
they been chosen at random to work
together as a team.
Weeks ago, when Mr.. Gheen was
nrst notified that he would be ex-
pected to furnish the team, he looked
over his stables and began pairing
up" what seemed to be his best
horses. Weeks passed, and still Mr..
Gheen wasn't satisfied.
Tried Out Together.
No matter how he fixed the horses.
something went wrong. Either the
horses did not match as to their
coats or else the team would not step
together. The time passed rapidly,
and q few days ago he decided.
It was Q worried looking group of
men who gathered at q riding hall
yesterday afternoon to see how the
chosen team would work, but when
they left they were smiling.
With blankets over their shining
shoulders. King, Delight, John and
Bathorp were led into the tan-bark
hall. The blankets were taken of
and the harness was put on as the
four big animals champed their bits
and stamped their well-cared-for
hoofs. Then the whip cracked. Up
flew their heads and away went the |
team. One look and the men knew |
their horses were well chosen,
Maybe They Felt Honor.
Perhaps the animals felt the honor. 4
At any rate. they knew a test OF
some kind was under way. Heads |
held high in the air, chewing bits |
which cleaned like silver and lifting |
ed on the trip round and round the
ring.
They come through the test with
flying colors. But the test was only
an Indication OF how the horses will |
conduct themselves Monday.
Each Of the animals is a pure /
bred hackney, a descendant of the !,
horses which used to bear King AL
fred and his knights into battle. AS
was suggested by one of the group
who watched them go through the
trial, there will be a number of horse
lovers Inauguration day, who will
make a point of watching closely
each animal in the parade. Needless
to say, Lorses which draw the Pres
idsnt will come in for a close and
critical scrutiny.
who'll The Coachman Be.
The President will take the trip to
and from the Capitol in an open
landeau. The harness for the ami.
mails is a thing of pride and joy TO
its owners. Glittering with metal
buckles and trimmings, with great
Persian collars, ii will show off to
advantage the animals which IT
graces. The whip which the driver
will hold is imported. Valuable and
artistic, 1t has never been taken from
fits case, for fear of its being injured
before time for its use.
Who the coachman will be hasn't
been decided. Every colored man in
the livery establishment is, OF course,
anxious to hold the post of honor, and
the lucky man will regard himself
as just a little less important than
the man in whose nonor the parade
is being held.
A Tip For Psychologists.
Psychologists contend that horses
have no reasoning power. They
ought to know.
But, Mr.. Psychologist on Monday,
watch the pride with which King and
Delight, the leaders. trot slowly down
"the Avenue" and notice the critical
manner in which John and BathorpI
see to their every action. as they
bear an old President to the Capitol.
and a new one back to the White
House.