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enthusiasm in Canada, it was nothing to the excitement produced in America. When the royal party crossed the river from Windsor to Detroit the crowds were so dense that the visitors could not get to their hotel through the main streets, and had to be smuggled in the back way. There could not have been greater curiosity to see him if the distinguished visitor had been George Washington come to life again. From Detroit the party went to Chicago where 50,000 people gathered to meet his royal highness.

The royal party arrived in St. Louis September 15, and like Chicago, that city was alive to receive the royal visitor. At that time the great St. Louis fair, the largest in this country, was being held. The grounds were immense and the buildings very extensive. The show ring was a quarter of a mile around. The amphitheatre seated 30,000 people. Stock of all kinds concentrated there from all parts of the country. The display of horses surpassed anything of the kind ever before seen in this country.

The Prince of Wales took a great interest in the fair. He spent most of his time among the horses and cattle, and he examined them closely, and showed himself a good judge of animals. A premium of $1,000 was offered for the best harness stallion, free-for-all stallions in the United States. Horses came from all parts of the country. Messengers, Morgans, Black Hawks, Andrew Jacksons, Abdallahs, Henry Clays, Hambletonians, in fact every family of horses entered for the great sweepstakes. It was certainly the greatest array of horseflesh ever displayed in this country.

SILVER HEELS RAN AWAY.

Among the number entered to compete for the premium was the black stallion, Silver Heels, owned by James W. Singleton of Quincy, Ill. This horse was sired by Vermont Black Hawk. He stood 15 hands, was as black as coal, and as handsome and perfect a horse as was ever foaled. He was very high-strung and excitable, and it took a master mechanic to handle 'him.' He had run away and injured his regular

driver so that the man was unable to

show him for the premium. As I was acquainted with the horse and had handled him two years before, when he took the first premium at the St. Louis fair, I was requested to handle him again for the $1,000 prize. It was not a pleasant task, and I reluctantly consented.

Fifty-seven stallions were entered for the premium. Silver Heels was the last to enter the show ring. No sooner had I got him straightened out than the band struck up a lively air that set the horse crazy. He made a lunge and

broke into a run and became unmanageable. Around the ring he went on a dead run, and continued six or eight times before I could get him under control. At last I managed to stop him. The crowd of 30,000 people in the grandstand was very much excited. He was certainly a dangerous horse to drive in such a crowd. I expected to be ordered out of the show ring; but as "faint heart never won fair lady," I requested the judges to give me another show. my surprise they consented to do so. Another class of horse was called, which gave me a chance to cool Silver Heels off.

PRESENTED A ROYAL PRIZE.

To

In about an hour the stallion class was again called into the show ring, and again Silver Heels was the fifty-seventh horse to enter. His run had taken the spunk out of him, and he behaved splendidly. One by one the stallions were ere examined and sent out of the ring. until the number had been reduced to three-Flying Cloud, Stockbridge Chief and Silver Heels, and, strange to say, all three were sired by Vermont Black Hawk. For a long time the judges were in a quandary where to place the blue ribbon. By his good behavior, after his runaway, Silver Heels had gained the favor of the grandstand crowd. Their shouts for him were very pronounced. After a long time the blue ribbon was tied on Silver Heels and the agony was

over.

No sooner had the judges rendered their decision than the Prince of Wales bounded out of his box in the grand

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stand and came into the show ring. He stepped up and congratulated me, saying: "It was well done. They gave the blue ribbon to the best horse. He deserved it." While he stood admiring the horse, General Singleton came up and was introduced to the prince as the owner of Silver Heels.

"You have a beautiful horse," said the prince.

"You like him?" rejoined the general. "Indeed I do. He is the handsomest horse I ever saw."

"Well, if you will accept the horse I will present him to you."

The prince was rather dumbfounded, but he accepted the horse in a very nice manner. The prince followed the horse to our stable and examined him closely. He invited me to visit him at Barnum's hotel that evening. I accepted the invitation. The prince was very much interested in the horse and asked many questions about him.

"I see that he is a very high-strung horse. Can I drive him?" he asked.

"No," I replied. "If you value vour life don't attempt to drive him. He is a dangerous horse for anyone to drive."

"Will you drive him and allow me to ride with you?"

"I will hitch Silver Heels with another horse and give you a ride."

It was agreed that the prince should come to the stable next morning and ride behind the horse. The next morning I had the team ready for the drive. To my surprise the prince came to the stable alone, walking.

THE PRINCE'S DARING RIDE. Where is your escort?" I asked him. "Oh, I gave them the slip. I feel better when I can spend an hour or two with my friends and do as I please. I think we can run this thing without any help," and he laughed.

We went down the Mound City road. which was a splendid drive. I had a good steady horse with Silver Heels. The team could step a good 2:30 clip. The prince was delighted.

"Can I drive the team?" he asked.

With reluctance I handed him the lines. To my surprise he shook the team up and set them sailing. No professional driver could have handled the team better than

he did. As we approached Barnums'

hotel on our return we found a crowd of excited people around the place. "There he is," they cried.

No sooner had we stopped in front of the hotel than the Duke of Newcastle made his appearance. He was very

much excited.

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'Where have you been?" asked the duke in a very pronounced manner.

"Why, I have just been taking a drive. And it was a good one," answered the prince.

It seems that the prince had quietly dressed himself and slipped out the back entrance of the hotel without saying a word to any one, and had found his way to the stable on foot. He was soon missed, and as he could not be found it was noised around that he had been kidnapped. They were about getting out the city "crier" with his bell to cry "Boy lost." The prince enjoyed the joke hugely.

The next day the prince sent for me to come to his rooms. He informed me that he had learned that General Singleton was very much attached to Silver Heels. I replied that the general thought as much of the horse as he did of his children. "I don't think it is right to deprive the general of his favorite horse," said the prince, "and I will not do it. Let us fix the matter in some way that will look all right, and return the horse to the general.

We agreed that next day I was to have the horse at the fair grounds. At the proper time he was to be taken in front of the prince's box; that General Singleton was to be sent for and the horse returned to him by the prince. The program was carried out. When the general appeared, the prince, in a very appropriate and neat little speech returned Silver Heels to him, giving his reasons for so doing. It was certainly a generous act and done in a very manly way.

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Courtesy Corbitt & Biles, Memphis, Tenn.

COTTON SEED SACKED READY FOR SHIPMENT, AS SEEN IN MEMPHIS, TENN.

The Trade Unionist and His Politics.

BY EUG. UNSWORTH.

A democracy has been defined as the government of the whole people by the whole people equally represented, and although it is frequently asserted that we are the most democratic nation in the world, the decadence of our modern political system under the influence of combinations of capital justifies us in asserting that we are very far from approaching our democratic ideal.

It must be apparent to the intelligence of the most optimistically inclined defender of the present political situation that corporate wealth is fast gaining the upper hand of the people, and slowly but surely converting this country from democracy to plutocracy, from a nation governed by the whole people to a nation governed by a few mercenary individuals.

The man with the muck rake is telling the story of labor's betrayal by its representatives in governmental affairs, and the political and social unrest which is spreading to every city in the United States indicates that the people are cognizant of the dangers that confront them, and are preparing to retire to private life those individuals whose political careers if not checked will eventually convert this republic into a privately owned institution.

The issues before the country today are largely economic. We have before us two contending forces, each struggling for supremacy; the despotism of capital and the organization of labor, the first advocating the abject servitude of the masses, the second freedom of thought, will, and action along lines that tend to the political and economic freedom of all the people. Society depends upon its sound and healthy growth to the freedom with which its individual members co-operate. Under our present complex industrial system an individual without the assistance of his fellowman can accomplish but very little. The private ownership and monopoly render co-operation impossible. It can then be readily observed that our large combinations of capital which control

our government are a menace and a barrier to the full, free and proper develop'ment of our social organism. It must be apparent to the most superficial observer that the majority of our men in public life who constitute the law makers of this nation are not only incompetent to grasp the gigantic industrial problems of the period, but have proven themselves to be the pliant tools of our privately owned monopolies. The removal of these men from public office is a duty devolving upon the wage earners of this country, and there is therefore no question of greater importance to the masses than the one which relates to the proper disposition of their ballot, for upon its wise and judicious use depends the satisfactory solution of our intricate social problem and the perpetuation of our republican form of government.

The remarkable growth of the trade union movement has been the wonder of this and the preceding century, and its success in ameliorating the conditions of the masses has been conceded by the student and observer of social affairs. To check its growth, to annihilate it, to render it inoperative, has been the ardent dream of a certain section of the employing class whose hypocritical cant about the personal liberty of the toiler consists in the wage earner humbly accepting a job at the conditions the employer sees fit to indicate, who allows the employer to dictate his wages, hours and other conditions of employment, and who is satisfied to permit the employer to claim for himself every privilege denied the employe.

To accomplish these purposes certain employers have brought to their assistance the powers of the government, have corrupted judges, and have supported powerful lobbies in almost every seat of government in this country. It is therefore the duty of every trade unionist to interest himself in the politics of his locality, to ascertain the character of the men who are destined to make the laws that will guide the destinies of our people and to cast his vote only for those

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