"LEOPARD" AND "LINDEN TREE." XI 



numerous writers' reports. Imagine my surprise when, upon running 

 my hand from between the ears down, I found a big, thick, hard crest, 

 as if a three- or even four-inch new cable-rope were inside. This was 

 exactly such a crest as was in Old Henry Clay, which lopped over like 

 a bag of meal with old age ; and I remembered having an old Mes- 

 senger stallion, years ago, with exactly such a crest, which, falling over 

 in the same way with age, was a great torment to my pride. How I 

 do punish myself in these days, to think of the green sheep-pelt sweats 

 I gave this noble old Messenger stallion to get the crest so it would 

 stay up in place ! Verily, boys and young men are fools, but they do 

 not know it. 



Well, Leopard and his groom, Addison, remained perfectly still 

 until I had run my hands over every part of the horse's body, from 

 the tips of his ears to the bottom of his feet, even to examining the 

 texture of his skin or hide, to see if it contained any spots. No 

 more perfect animal ever lived than General Grant's Arabian stallion 

 Leopard. 



Now for his gaits. I had Addison lead him on the walk to and from 

 me, say a distance of two or three hundred feet, that I might see the 

 position of the feet in walking. There was no twisting behind, nor 

 paddle in front, but straight, clean, elastic stepping. I now had him 

 pass me at the side, that I might see his knee, also hock and stifle 

 action. From the walk I had him moved upon the trot, and at either 

 walk or trot every movement was perfect. The knee-action was beau- 

 tiful : not too much, as in toe-weighted horses, nor stiff and staky, 

 as in the English race-horse, but graceful and elastic, beautifully bal- 

 anced by movement in the hock and stifle. To make Leopard a very 

 fast trotting-horse nothing was wanting but the training from colthood, 

 as is done with our colts of to-day. One thing we should gain by 

 training such a colt as Leopard was, and that would be in the saving 

 of boots with other mechanical contrivances. I could but say to 

 myself, truly, " God has made all things perfect." 



I have been accustomed to handling stallions for the past thirty 

 years, hence look first for the disposition. At this time Leopard's 

 disposition was excellent, or, as ladies would say, " lovely !" and " sweet !" 

 Twice this horse has taken the first premium at the " National Horse 

 Show of America" over his stable companion Linden. 



Linden Tree (or Linden, for short) was now led out. This horse 

 lias been called a "jet-black" by some papers, which was a mistake 

 never corrected by such journals. At that time, the spring of 1880, 



