Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1892 — Oratory Against Horse Racing. [ARTICLE]

Oratory Against Horse Racing.

Jerry Simpson is not the man that h* is represented to he by some of the daily prints. He dresses neatly and has the appenraneo of a keen-eyed business man. He is called “Sockless Jerry,” but he declares that since reaching man's estate he has never worn shoes without socks. Ho is a fluent talker, and the trouble with him is that he does not know when to stop. At the Alabama State Fair lie was advertised to stand on a platform with Senator Peffer t.nd deliver a spooch. As this platform was in the grandstand and directly opposite the judges' grandstand, Mr. Simpson was advised to out it short, so that the racing programme could bo finished bofore dark.

Senator Peffer spoke briefly, keeping liis eyes on his watch and then Mr. Simpsoil began to unwind himself, 110 tickled the Alabama farmers and took no note of time At 2.80 o’clock the horses were on the track and ready to score. David Bonner, presiding judge, did not like to be discourteous, but as Mr. Simpson would not stop.thore was no help for it. The bell was sharply rung, and it drowned for a space of one minute tho voice of Mr. Simpson. Tho orator paused with a smile on his faco and then calmly proceeded with his speech. The horses scored and finally got the word. The orator kept at it until- the quurt6r polo was passed, and tlion, us his hoarors rose to their feet and grew excited over tho shifting of positions o£ tho contestants, Mr. Simpson rounded a period and stopped. He watched the finish of the heat with some interest, and then was lost in the throng. That evening, at tho dinner table, Mr. Bonner apologized for his seeming rudeness, but Mr. Simpson good-naturodly stopped him. “Xo explanation is necessary. My time was up and I knew it. I simply wanted to see how long I could hold an Alabama audience against tho race boll. 1 lmvo frequently made tho experiment in other States, and now I am satisfied thero is nothing more moving than a horse trot.” As Mr. Simpson spent his younger days in Cleveland and Chicago, lie learned a good deal about the light-harness horse before Bottling down in Kansas. —[Turf, Field and Farm.