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HOMAGE TO THE CHAMPION Pennsylvania Rural Folk in Large Numbers to See Man o War. - Great Colt Exhibited at Rose Tree Hunt Mr. Riddles "Poverty Stables" Colors Black. RY C. J. F1TZ GERALD. NEW YORK, N. Y., October 30. The thousands who have admired Man o War for his superb individuality and splendid race horse jualities should have seen the great thnw-y.ear-old at the Rose Tree Hunt near Media, twelve miles from Philadelphia, on Wednesday of lnst week, when Samuel D. Riddle, an ex-president of . the organization, brought the champion- from Glen Riddle Farm in order that the "home folks" might pay their tribute to the great horse before his departure to the stud in Kentucky. It was a Man o War through with the rigors of training, with a life of ease ahead of Mm that acknowledged the plaudits of the 10,000 persons present with a kingly dignity, as of a sovereign receiving his due. . On his arrival in the van Man o War showed his versatility by leaping nimbly to the ground, disdaining the landing board down which his stable companion had sedately made his way. The throng gave the regal chestnut a great welcome as he was led away to a temporary stable, guarded by a dozen Philadelphia blnecoats. Later in. the afternoon the public desire to view the champion at close quarters was gratified and for. halt an hour he was on" view in the paddock and on. -the race course in front of the stand, first in the colors of his happy owner and later stripped of everything but a lead bridle and a pair of bandages on his front legs. Mr. Riddle had promised .his neighbors that they should see tlfe great colt and he kept his word. The owner of Man o War is "Sam" to the countryside about Media and all afternoon he was busy shaking hands with the farmers over whose land the Rose Tree hunts, and with a host of friends engaged in other walks of life. The gatekeeper at the entrance to the course in front of the stand came in for a hearty handshake and there was an exchange of reminiscences during which racing programs of the early eighties, discolored with age, were fished from the depths of an inside pocket. "There you are; sir. Poverty Stable, colors black," said the gateman, whom Mr. Riddle had hailed as "Johnny." "Thats right, Johnny; thats the old stable name under which Howard Lewis and I raced," replied Mr. "Riddle. "I rememoer somebody said the black; colors wouldnt bring us luck. The Jacket was made of alpaca, and I bought some cheap yellow braid and sewed" it on, making my present day combination of black and -yellow. After we had won a few races it was .suggested that we change the name to the Prosperity Stable. Those were good old days, Johnny, and we all had lots of fun." Farmers set aside the cares of their everyday life, on the day Man 6 War was exhibited. Women iind children were bundled into automobiles and buggies and all roads led to the picturesque grounds on which one of the most, unique race courses in the world has been fashioned. The country round about Media is a succession of hills and valleys of great fertility and beauty, with cozy farmhouses and well-kept outbuildings dotting the landscape. There are densely wooded areas here and there which form natural breeding places for the foxes which are pursued with such reckless daring by what is admittedly the -hardest riding bunch, of horsemen tills country can produce.. After viewing the region from the grandstand, one readily understands why no other country possesses terrors for the members of the Rose Tree. ROSE TREE PICTURESQUE PLACE. The course is laid out on a plateau commanding n stirring view of miles of country unsurpassed for-rural beauty. It is of natural turf and shaped like a dumbbell. It is not more than six furlongs in area, but is so admirably fashioned that the horses are always under the eyes of the, spectators, passing the stand twice in covering that distance. There is in addition a steeplechase course with living privet as a brush and it is a real jumping course, being as stiff as any and fully up to regulations. The ground is undulating with a climb to the finish in the last 150 yards to, search out the weak, spots, and there are corresponding areas downhill to expose bad-shouldered, horses on both flat and; cross country. , . On the day Man ,o War was shown there were six races carded by- the Rose Tree Foxhuting Club.; The first was -for liorses owned and ridden by: fanners or their sons and the others were for thoroughbreds, hunters and steeplechasers on the; flat and cross country. Gentleman riders were in the saddle in some of. these events and the quality; of horsemanship was high. Amateurs acted as of-i ficials, the; stewards being .Messrs. Charles E.-Mather. Edward F. Beale and Edward B.; Cassatt.1 The judges were Messrs. John S. -Hawkins, William M. Kerr and R. Penn Smith. The timers were Messrs. F. Wallis Armstrong, J. Stanley Reeve, Edward E. Marshall and Robert Glendenning. Le- under W. Riddle was the starter and J. G. Murtaghj clerk of the scales.. The following members of the, tclub? served as race committee: Walter L. Rhodes, Charles A. Dolan Emanuel Hey, M. Roy Jackson, and Walter M. Jeffords, with the last named, who is also master of foxhounds of the Rose Tree, act-, ing as secretary . , Dr. George W- Qfton was an efficient racing, secretary: During the running of the races the keenest interest was evinced. The course from rail to rail at: the handle, of the dumbbell, where the grandstand Is located, is not more than 230 feet wide and there was accordingly a get-together spirit and a degree of enthusiasm shown in the sport that waVmost wholesome. Tile Rose Tree was founded iu 1839 by a group of residents of Upper Providence Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, who met in the Rose Tree Hotel. The imagination pictures the company; and the scene. The region has always been noted, for the quality of Its men, Its horses end its dogs, and the traditions of the place are being kept alive toy, the present-day members, who have done much for -the preservation of the sporting spirit in the! East: ! There are only two members of the original Rose Tree alive today George E. Darlington and Edward E.L Worrell and the former, who was the original secretary, and is now the honorary president, was present to welcome Man o War. He showed a commendable pride in the cozy low-cell- inged clubhouse with its. huge fireplaces and historic mementoes which included photographs of the original members of. the organization. The signboard of the Rose Tree Hotel no doubt the pride of the hand that painted it a century ago Is hoisted on a standard near the entrance gate. It?" is the sign -manual of horsemanship and hospitality as well as sportmanship. In tltc highest sense of-, the word. The horse will never want for friends jis long as such institutions exist.
