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RHAPSODY TO DIRECTOR Celebrated Early Race Horse Buried with Honors and Fame Perpetuated in Verse. Director, brother to Virginian, a celebrated race horse in the early part of the nineteenth century, died in 1827 at the age of sixteen years at the farm of Jamea C. Dickson, Louisa County, Virginia. That gentleman, Avith a feeling of honor and humanity, says American Turf Register in 1830, had him decently shrouded and buried. The following rhymed description of Director then appeared : From genrous sires, of the Arabian breed Descended, sing my muse, the sprightly steed. I Full sixteen hands denote his measured 1 height, A chestnut dark attracts the admiring sight On pasterns firm with comely pride he stands. And all around extended view commands His neck, high archd, like the curvd rainbow bends. From his thin crest the flowing mane descends. His glowing eye-balls dart ethereal fires, And from wide nostrils curling smoke aspires. Deep chest and finest shoulders strike the view "With matchless strength at once, and beauty, too. Flat sinewy legs support the finished frame Of chestnut hue, like others of his name He snorts, he bounds I And drinks attentive, the animating sounds. But when he made advances to the goal Ambition fird his breast and filld his ardent soul ; His rival challenging, he neighd aloud. And foamed impatient mid the thronging . : crowd. j "Where the shrill trumpets shriller blast pro- j ! claim, ! i And sound aloud Directors -a name. j ,
