Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-13

tain certain standing among the
III higher hats. There is a freemasonry
among horse lovers which tram
scends the limitations of birth,
breeding and Bradstreet ratings. If you can
master the fine points Of horsemanShip in this
machine-made age it is proof that you haven't
much else to do consequently, you are eligible
for membership in the leisure classes
In fact, you don't even have to ride; If you
can talk intelhgently about horses the social
barriers will be lowered and you can crawl
into the select company Of those who know the
difference between a demivolte and a reprise.
The mere ability to say "Ah!" in knowing
manner when looking at a picture of horse
will sometimes work wonders and lot of in
cidental havoc.
If hadn't said "Ah!" when Miss Murgatroyd
showed me an old English hunting print might
never have been invited to join the st. Chris
tOpher Riding Academy. Miss Murgatroyd had
already showed me her collection of pewter, her
Ming vase and her seven unfinished hooked
rugs-so the "Ah!" was really sigh of relief.
But as soon as she heard it she pounced.
You are fond Of horses?" said Miss Muir
gatroyd eagerly.
Yes admitted, "in moderation"
so am II" she exclaimed, clapping her
hands. 1.-The horse-that bundle OF sentient
nerves with the heart of woman, the courage
of a gladiator. the tmidity of q fawn, the
docility Of slave"-
And the unreliability of wrist watch" I
added.
think can get you into our riding class. The
membership of st. Christopher Academy Is
limited, but I think can get you in"
Maybe you'd better just put me on the
waiting list" suggested. Il don't mind wait
ing"
But when she told the st. Christopher people
that was a regular old horse fancier-and
the older the better-they opened their sliding
doors to me promptly. They said that because
was friend of Miss Murgatroyd they would
xgA fIHa r,,Ina
! discovered that this was permanent waive;
the membership was limited strictly to anybody
who had 5000 and nothing to do on Tuesday
and Thursday afternoons.
THERE were three classes at the riding acad-
elementary, intermediate and ad-
vanced. The only difference that could see
in them was that the elementary students fell
of and stayed off, the intermediate students
fell off and got back on and the advanced stu
dents didn't fall of at all
was put in the intermediate class and given
big brown horse named Tristan who looked
as if he had been sprankled with powdered
sugar, like drug store doughnut. He was
brought to me by the groom and the best man,
and we were formally introduced AS soon as
he saw me his worst fears seemed to be real
lied; he SHE'D violently and reared up, lifting
his escorts off their feet.
It's your polkadot tie, SIR" said the groom
when he came down to earth again. He don't
like spots. Never did. I don't know why
Maybe they make him feel bilious said
untying my necktie and putting it in my
pocket.
1T amt anything personal, sir" said the
groom r6aSsuringly. Clnging to the bride, he
informed me that Tristram had other aversions.
He didn't like newspapers, small dogs, cigar
cites, walking sticks, peppermint candy or elder
1y ladies with pink flowers their hats And
the mere sight Of person in pearl-buttoned
spats threw him into panic. Obviously, Iris
tram should have been psychoanalyzed.
One is often asked to marvel at the SUPER
human intelligence of the horse-how it win
grow alert and suspicious before its rider Is
aware OF the presence Of danger, how 1t win
refuse to cross a bridge which is unsafe, how
1t VIII 1nstinctively avoid treacherous pits and
precipiceS even on the darkest night No doubt
such things happen. But when one considers
the large number Of horses that grow alert and
suspicious when there is no danger whatever,
that refuse to cross bridges which are as safe
rs solid ground and that spend most of their
time sidestepping quite imaginary pits and
precipices; one ceases to marvel at animal in
tuition.
Tristram was suspicious of everything. He
kept looking for signs and portents and polka
dots. A primrose by the bonnet's brim was not
gentle flower to him. It was a pink peril
something to be morted at and backed away
1rom He sensed q plot in every Pekingese. If
Tristram had been human would have said
that he had seen too many motion picture
serials in his youth.
1t was only after much persuasion that he
allowed me to put my foot in the stirrup, and
as soon as I swung into the saddle he pro-
ceeded to box the compass with his nose. He
was not an Arabian steed, but there must have
been strain Of the dervish in him. He spun
around like a photograph record IN an at
tempt to dislodge me by centrifugal force.
Check him, sir-check himl" shouted the ,
groom. $3.50 .-@-z