The prospect \v:is disfourairina-, (■()iitril)ii(i<)iis at lirst cimic in slowly, and some 

 HOOO printed circulars which had hccn sent tlnouiih the mail appeared to have gone 

 into the waste basket unread. The Directors, however, were ojjtiniistic, and wdien 

 the President of the Association deposited a thousand-dollar bond with the Treasurer 

 as a 2"uaranty fund, they felt sure of ultimate success, (iradually, too, the owners 

 of work-horses awoke to the situation, and when the entries (dosed, thev weic found 

 to numlx'r four hundred and tift\-f()ur. 



The Association obtained in contributions the sum of $l,7i>(;.00, and as the run- 

 ninir expenses were very slight, almost the Avhole of this sum was devoted to the 

 parade. Over five hundred dollars were distributed in cash ])rizes, as follows: 

 Fifty first prizes of four dollars each ; fifty second prizes of three dollars each ; fifty 

 third prizes of two dollars each ; fift}' fouith prizes of one dollar each. Some special 

 prizes were also awarded by the Association, one in particular to Old King Ooal, a 

 famous black horse of great size and beauty, belonging to the Metropolitan Coal 

 Oomi)any. King Coal, probably the best known hoi'sc in Boston, is the proud pos- 

 sessor of eighteen blue riI)bons won b}' him at various horse show^s. He headed the 

 procession, led b}' the negro teamster who for many years drove him and his mate. 

 — ~^ In addition to the mone}^ })rizcs, libbo^ns, costing fifty cents apiece, were given 



with each i)rize, and also a di})l()ma foi- the owner. These diplomas, as web .t.. . 

 certificates for the drivers entitled to them, were handsomely engraved on good 

 l)a})er, and many of them have l)cen framed by the recipients. 



Four special prizes for the Truckmen's Class were also awarded through the 

 generosity of the following donors: C. II. I)uck cVc Co., The Moffett ^'ehicle Bearing- 

 Co., The Buidvcr Hill Carriage Co., Mr. P. McC^ill, Charlcstown. 



!^-" It is no exagiicration to say that the })arade was a trium})hant success, 'i'he pro- 

 cession was about four miles long, and the greatest enthusiasm was shown, both b}' 

 exhibitors and spectators. The drivers cared little or nothing for the money wdiich 

 they received ; Avhat they wen; thinking of was the |)ossible honor to be bestowed 

 u})on their horses, and indirectly, ujion themsidves ; and many of them, when they 

 ap})roa(died the reviewing stand where the piizcs were awarded, \vere observed to be 

 ])ale with apprehension. Roughly speaking, every other \\\'\\\ received a prize, and 

 yet, as the officers of the Association found to their sorrow, many of the drivers 

 were grievously disapjjointed at the failure of their horses to obtain a ribbon. It is 

 the intention at the second parade to increase the num])er of prizes. 



In some cases interested persons thought that injustice had been don(>, ])ut in 

 most, if not all of these cases, subse(|uent in(|uiry proved that the horse in (|uestion 

 \\:\ '^'en dis(|ualified for some good I'eason, as that he was slightly lame, that his 



