Wheeling Register

THE WHITE HOUSE
STABLES.
Horses Driven by Hayes and
Garfield.

President Garfield loves a good horse.
He is also an excellent rider, knowing
how to sit firmly and gracefully in the
saddle, and to keep his horse under con-
trol. His life as a general in the army
would have accustomed him to horse
back riding, even had he not come from
a country where that accomplishment
is a common one. He has not as yet
made any changes in the presidential
stables, except to add a saddle horse.
The four horses which were used by Mr.
Hayes were left by him. They will,
however, be sent to Fremont during
next fall. In the language of the
presidential coachman, "They are worn
out. Mr. Hayes," he continued, "never
cared much for horses—not near as
much as Mrs. Hayes did. So long as
the carriage was ready when called for,
he did not trouble himself. Grant, on
the contrary, was passionately fond of a
good horse, and was not afraid to spend
money for one. He took them away or
gave them away when he left. In
Washington," continued the coachman,
"a man who pays $600 or $700 for a
pair of coach horses thinks he is giving
a big price. But that is no money for a
pair of horses when they are good.
It follows, without saying, that the
horses in the presidential stables are not
remarkable for their speed, nor, indeed,
do they possess any qualifications be-
yond those of the ordinary animal. The
president is quietly looking for a fine
span of horses—a pair that will do credit
to their position. He has had several
offers, but none of them suited him.
He is in no particular hurry, and will
probably wait until fall before turning
his attention to procuring three or four
good horses, and when these are secured
Mr. Hayes's stock will be returned to
him with thanks. Neither the president
nor his boys care much for carriage
driving, and leave that to Mrs. Garfield
and the ladies.

Mrs. Garfield uses the carriage a good
deal, and generally goes shopping in the
two-horse closed carriage which Mr.
Hayes used. There are other carriages
in the presidential stables, including
single-seated and double-seated buggies,
but these are comparatively little used.
The president goes out horseback riding
every evening after office hours, unless
the weather interferes—generally with-
out company. He travels leisurely, and
does not care to put his horse to its ut-
most speed. His private secretary,
Brown, does not go horseback riding,
although he has four government horses
in the stable for his own use. His car-
riages are also kept here. A Durham
cow has a large, roomy stall in the
stable, and supplies the White House
with milk, for the presidential family do
not care for watered milk.