The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-08-14
BECOME
FASHIONABLE
AGAIN
"FamiIy Span" Returns to
Favor of Society Leaders,
Declares Author.
BY GEORGE FRANKLIN.

DIV ASEAANAAA~N"
Horses are scoring a comeback
in Washington.
The tin Lizzie, contrary to pre-
diction, has failed to score a knock
out of mans noblest Of friends
among dumb animals in the Capt.
tai while lovers and hackers of the
latter are finding their faith in
his return justified by rapidly de-
veloping conditions.
Among the men benefited by the
reviving interest in horses are a
half score of the city's once pros
porous merchants and q small army
of leather workers employed by
them in harness and saddle shops.
For the first time in nearly ten
years the latter are busy today,
working in some instances over
time. They are making harness,
such as once commanded the at
tention of drivers Of blue-blooded
trotters ana PAGERS, and of the
still more numerous class who
turned out daily behind their
Hamiltonians in Victorias and tea
carts, made by such famous old
firms as the Brewsters and the
Gays.
Little by little the horse is be-
coming fashionable again" said
Walter J. Cogswell, who has never
lost faith in the return Of the
thoroughbred, while a business once
occupying the major part OF a
city block shrank until it Is ac-
commodated today in little corner
shop.
Men and women Of the exclusive
set are once more giving horse-flesn
patroniZing support and 1t will hard
ly be another two years before the
span-drawn barouche will be a dis
tinguishing mark of social standing.
Washington, quite fittingly, can lead
the country in the equestrian
renaissance, and in reality it is doing
so. Motor cars have their place.
They always will be used where
quick and continued service Is de-
manded, but when 1t comes to riding
for pleasure they will give way, that
is, among discriminating, pleasure
loving people, for the horse"
Evidence of the tenacity with
which the horse has held on to the
position in Washington, sort of
last ditch desperation stand, is seen
in the survival of the few one
horse traps in livery service. There
are persons in the city who decline
to ride in any other equipage. Little
more than a year ago their ap-
pearance on the street behind slow
jogging Dobbins, created a smile.
But that was months ago. Today
they pass but little noticed. Already
they are being accepted as a part
of what is to be expected. Horse
lovers, noting the lessening of public
interest, see in them an acceptance
Of the revival of the horse and are
enthusiastically predicting that with
in another year few well-appointed
households will be found in the Dis
trict without a span of thoroug h-
breds and single and double driving
vehicles.
To the saddle horse and the de-
lightful bride paths surrounding
the city much of the credit for
keeping alive interest in the horse
and insuring his return to favorit-
ism is being given.
The saddlers have saved the
day." declared E. H. Carrier, an
expert saddle maker. THE number
of equestrians has been steadily in
creasing here during the past two
years. l should say there are fully
half as many more men and women
in Washington riding today as there
were a year ago The increase is
not to be credited to strangers com
ing to reside her for a few months.
1t embraces many representatives
of old Washington families During
the past year some of them have
taken to driving again, and from
The number of driving harnesses
which have been resurrected ard
sent in for repairs, it is evident
more drivers will be seen on the
streets. Then, while it is not as yet
very apparent, the horse has re-
turned to his place within certain
limits in commercial life"
.Verlflcatlon OF this tendency was
furnished by the representative Of
one of the large packing interests.
His explanation follows:
Experience has proved there is
certain field in the delivery work
In which the horse is supreme.
Where the travel does not exceed
twenty-five miles a day the horse
and the wagon have an advantage
over the motor driven truck. OF
course, where heavy loads are to
be carted long distances in making
deliveries, the motor truck is the
only thing. 1t Is because we have
found the horse the most economi.
cal factor to employ under the con-
ditions indicated that we are using
MIN. Otherwise, for there is no SEN
t1ment In the packing house bust
ness, the motor truck would have
driven him out and been an impas-
sable barrier to his return. 1t is
just question of dollars and cents.
and modern bookkeeping methods
leave the value Of the horse undis-
puted. Understand, am not
knocking motor trucks, we have q
fleet of them as against two or
three hOrse-drawn wagons. but those
horse units can laugh at the motor
trucks in safety"
An increasing demand for pony
harness is reported. This indi-
Gates, 1t Is said, that with the open
ing of social activities in the fall
many OF the youngsters belonging
10 families OF the social set will be
found driving around the city in
dlmlnutiVe carts and traps drawn
by pony teams and Shetlands.
oh, we are all right" said Car
hi