Cinder Path Tales

146 CINDER-PATH TALES line on the turf, hewas a wonder, and better than anywe can show to-day. If Reber and Fry had lived in his time they would not have been in his class, and should George Washington return to earth, andenter a con­ test to-day (I hope there is nothing sacri­ legious in the thought), he would distance their bestefforts. A mighty finepair of legs he must have had, and what he could have done with modern improvements, such as spiked shoes, a five-inch joist, on a nice cinder-path, and with prepared ground to land in, we can only guess; I should say he could have bettered his record by a good yard. It is easy to understand how such a man could succeed in the great game ofwar. Our Virginian jumper, despite all his ad­ vantages, wascontent witha performance of nearly threefeet less than that of the father of his country, who had hailed fromthe same State. So matters wenton, until one morning late in April I arranged with Dick to give him an early morning trial alone. He demurred at this most decidedly, being very fond of his morning nap, but consented finally, if I would agree tocall him. I cannot tell how I allowed him to wheedleme as he did; but it was a way he had with all, and few could resist him.