Evening star., 1936-06-07
By Robert B. Phillips, T.
.OR the last two years the crys-


- tal-gazers and prophets of local
horsedom have been ebullient.
Deserving in fact and in the
future a lavish expansion in the world
of the horse, they have trumpeted the
cry of "boom!" quite as enthusiastic
ally as the high priests of the Stock
Exchange screeched bonanza! bo-
nanza!" a few years ago when stocks
scared to a new plateau land subse-
quently walked too near the edge).
1t is customary to greet the present
revival of horse shows, hunting and
steeplechasing as if none such had ever
been known before in all time. Like
people living through their first boom,
panic or wisdom tooth, the happy
hunters of horsedom vaguely believe
themselves actors in unique drama.
Knowing that the horse and equestrian
sports were for some years, and only
once in history discredited by the new
tangled gas buggy, they regard the re-
newal of popular interest as an un-
precedented phenomenon.
There is a certain white-haired and
distinguished gentleman residing at
the Racquet Club here who views these
temporal huzzas with an almost ag-
gressive calm. Truly one of the vet
eran horsemen of the town, he might,
If he chose, splinter many an ecstatic
illusion of the new generation. He
could point out that even in the days
when there was no way to get around
except on a bicycle built for two. or
astride of or behind horse, the great
sport of riding and the greater sport
of hunting lolled in the doldrums.
Pressed for details, he might be COM
PEELED to admit that he, almost single
handed, had once brought about re-
Nval similar to the one now so fever
ishly celebrated. And it is possible
that in the telling he would convince
the modern moguls that these matters
were better ordered in another day,
implying that the current boom has
not reached the last crag of the high
est peak of perfection.
The gentleman to whom we refer is
Alexander Greger. Five decades ago
he came to Washington, young and
athletic Russian diplomat. one of the
brilliant figures Of the CZarist court
and of the imperial governments for
eign service. In that day interest in
horses and horSemanship here was at
such low ebb that a reporter of the
time observed that lady who ven
tured out on horseback would doubtless
be met with deriSive hoots and mock
ing hail of stones from the city's
bolder urchins So cool was the Off
cial attitude toward riding that the
late Henry Cabot Lodge was arrested
by House sergeant at arms for fol-
lowing the chase without obtaining
proper permission to leave his congress
sional duties.
ITO COMBAT such anti-equestrian-
ism, Alexander Greger hurled into
the fray great wealth, energy and So
cial influence. Within a few years he
had triumphed to the extent that Ger
tain Government underlings COM
planned their cabinet bosses were using
official documents as bait in paper
chases, and Mr.. Lodge, having sub
m1tted to arrest once in the name of
sport, continued to pursue that sport
gleefully and ardently thereafter.
Being unable to persuade President
Cleveland to permit Mrs. Cleveland to
join in his rides, the youthful Greger
obtained her services as chief pre-
senter of trophies. The winners in
paper chases received rewards donated
by M. Greger himself-clever little
baubles, a gold horseshoe inset with
diamonds for the winner; gold shoes
set with rubies and emeralds and such
for the lesser prizes.
No better estimate of the Greger re-
gency of that period could be given
than is contained in the Cosmopolitan
for November, 1888. A scribe named
Franklin P. Smith writes the leading
article, Riding in Washington, prais-
ing Mr.. Greger as the patron saint of
horsemanship in this city and setting
forth minute descriptions of the de-
vices the foreigner used to lure local
OuSulCdTleS l1lGO G0e sadie.
One of these was the paper chase
aforementioned. 1t was so notably
patronized that even the Chinese Min
lister, DR.. Vow, decided to try his hand,
riding in his native costume Of flowing
robes and clogs, giving him the ap-
pearance, when riding in the wind, of
an inflated balloon" He found the
chaSeS rather stiff for his taste, but
he did attend the brilliant functions
pertinent thereto.
The idea of paper chase is scorned
today by hardy fox hunters, and even
timid exponents of the sport. Yet in
reading of M. Greger's chases, they
will recognize many of the character
1SticS, both admirable and comical, of
their own sports and may note that
there w-s b certain elegant finish to
the affair now generally lacking in all
but the most expensive and conscien-
tiously tailored Of modern fox hunts.
MR.. SMITH, who apparently had
kept his tongue in his cheek
while studying the paper chase as an
writes this rather lurid ac-
count Of the proceedings:
'The paper chase, or paper hunt, as
Il Is sometimes called. Is In perfect ac-
cord with The spirit of modern civili-
zation and enlightenment. It is fas-
cinating but still base imitation Of the
fox hunt, but it has no more resem-
olance to the genuine article than the
oureau-bedstead or the piano-refriger-
ator has to the beautiful pieces of fur
niture that they so impudently coun-
,erfeit. Had Gay composed his Rural
Sports" in this generation, he would
never have written:
The healthy huntsman, with his |
cheerful horn,
summons the dogs and greets the
dappled morn;
The jocund thunder awakes the enliy-
ezed hounds;