CHARLES BACKMAN AND STONY FORD 



sealed between the hours of twelve and three, and 

 many a check for four figures was drawn to pay 

 for a future record-breaker. It mattered not how 

 late you hunted your pillow, or how feverish were 

 your dreams, you were expected to be in your seat 

 at the breakfast table at eight o'clock, and to greet 

 the host and ladies with a smile as fresh as the dew- 

 kissed rose. 



When I am in Orange County and drive by the 

 City of the Silent on the hillside, where trees lift 

 their strong arms to embrace the blue sky and ward 

 off storm, I am reminded of the golden hours at 

 Stony Ford, and hope that all is well with Uncle 

 Charles and the gallant fellows who have crossed the 

 river with him. 



Mr. Backman was an early advocate of the speed- 

 supporting cross. In his first catalogue, published in 

 1870, he gave evidence of his respect for the thor- 

 oughbred foundation. The pedigrees of stallions and 

 brood mares were extended so as to take in running 

 crosses. The lines of his favorite stallion, Messen- 

 ger Duroc, were traced to such thoroughbreds as 

 Henry, American Eclipse, and Messenger. Grand- 

 mother, the dam of Hattie Wood, dam of Idol, 

 Victor Von Bismarck, and Gazelle, 2.21, was re- 

 corded as by Terror by American Eclipse; Terror's 

 dam, Lady Lightfoot by Sir Archy, and second dam 

 Black Maria by imp. Shark. Green Mountain Maid 

 was given as by Harry Clay, dam by Lexington, but 

 as the Lexington cross could not be verified, it was 



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