Before television and the Internet, people’s lives were interactive in a completely different way. People went to kitchen hops and dances, fairs, house parties, teas and dinners. There was an almost fierce drive to connect with one another, know neighbors, find deep and lasting amusements in the midst of a hard and sometimes grinding life. There were many tests of character and endurance.Florence was always learning the sometimes hard lessons of life, and always paying attention. More and more, horses were becoming a part of her life. As a parent, I can’t help notice how much she was learning in her forays into the world, and how sheltered from life children are now. Or for that matter, how sheltered I was. It took me many years to learn the things Florence grasped at a young age. In her journals, her intelligence and focus stand out. She was always learning, always taking note.
“Each August we all looked forward to the great Cambridge fair. Dad showed cattle, sheep and horses. Mother showed some of her hand work and can goods. She won lots of blue ribbons. Dad always received passes for some of us. He would give each one of us children one dollar for the week. I can hear him say use it all the first day and you will not have any the rest of the week. I learned to save mine and sometimes came home at the end of the week with a dime. Mother always took our lunch and helped Dad with the showing. One time Dad was showing a horse at hand. At the same time Mother was showing one on a buggy. This horse had been in many a race. The class was to be on the track. As she came out with the others, they changed the class to later so the race could go on one more heat. They asked all to remain in the center field of the track as the judge scored the horses. Druien (her mother’s horse) thought he was in the race. He had a record of 204-1/2 for the mile. When the judge finally said go, he too started. Mother pulled him in and he stood straight up walking on his hind feet. People screamed but Mother took out the whip and got him under control. Others ran for Dad.
All he said was she can handle him as good as I can. One man said you are crazy, she will get killed.
Dad and I loved to watch the races and often made bets between ourselves. One day we were watching a race when Dad said I’ll bet No. 5 will win. I said no, number 2 will win. What will you bet? He said if you win, I’ll buy you that beautiful horse the marshal is riding down there. If I win you buy me a box of cigars. I won the race and down Dad went to buy the horse, but the man would not sell the black mare. Dad said you wait a while, I’ll get her for you. After many trips to see the man, one day the beautiful black mare arrived. I was thrilled at having my own horse. I had never rode in a saddle before. We took her out to the field a few days later. Dad rode her first. She was very quick and impatient to stand. I got on but she did not like to stand, so toss her head and hit me in the head. Things went black. I swayed in the saddle. Dad caught her and I did not fall off. I never trusted her again. One day I decided I was not going to have such pleasure with her. I said Dad, let’s trade horses. We had lots of horses so he said what do you want? I said, I’ll trade for ten dollars, my horse for Violet. She was a colt we had raised but had not rode.
She was well trained. We dickered for a few days and I finally said, I’ll trade even and we did. Now Violet and I learned a lot together. I showed her at the fair and got second.”
Next: A man named Capt. Eddy.