152 EVfiRY MAN HIS OWN TRAINER. 



Sontag Mohawk by Mohawk Chief, dam of Sallie Benton, 

 2:17f, by General Benton and Eros, 2:20|^, by Electioneer, 

 that I thought could fly, but when Marvin appeared on the 

 track behind Sunol, two-year-old, record 2:18, she put all of 

 them young ones in the shade. I just think 1 saw her step a 

 2:10 gait, and want to say right here, if she lives two years 

 and has no bad luck, she will wipe out any mark ever put on 

 the blackboard ; it was not only the speed she shows, but the 

 manner in which she does it, there is no hitching or scrabbling, 

 but she goes just as natural and easy as a chicken picking up 

 corn. Mr. Marvin told me she had never made but one break 

 in her life, and that was in the first heat of her first race. As 

 Marvin stepped out of the sulky behind her I took him by the 

 hand and said, " Charley, this has paid me for the 'whole trip, 

 for I never expected to see anything like this during my life.'' 

 I said to Mr. Marvin, "What would a thing like that cost?" 

 He replied, ''Only $50,000.'' 1 looked at my purse and made 

 up my mind that I could hardly afford to own her as much as 

 I would like to, not being a Robert Bonner. 



Next he came out with Fred Crocker 2:25^, eleven years 

 old. He was the first two-year-old to beat 2:30, and his 2:25^ 

 was made at that age. He has been a little off, and has had 

 no work since his two-year-old form. He looked big and 

 strong, is high in flesh, and has had but little work, but I 

 think could show better than a 2:20 gait. Marvin is very con- 

 fident he will give him a record better than 2:20 this year ff 

 he will stand work. When noon came Mr. Marvin in\itcd me 

 to his house, which ■ is situated near the entrance to Palo 

 Alto. It is a handsome cottage, and its occui)ants. Mr. and 

 Mrs. Marvin, with their three children, are a family that one 

 seldom meets. Mrs. Marvin would compare fa\'orably with 

 the first lady in the land, who has been so highly lauded and 

 esteemed, and justly, as every one concedes. Their children 

 do honor to their parents, and cannot be too highly spoken 

 of. As I am \cry fcMid of children, I assure \'ou I enjo)-ed 

 that dinner and the hospitalities of my host and hostess. 



