THE DEATH OF AMERICAN GIRL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4600, 17 December 1875, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE DEATH OF AMERICAN GIRL.

(From the New York Herald, Oct. 3.) American Girl, who died yesterday at Klmira. " as a horse more fortunate than the vast maj" ity of mankind. Although she died young, eveu in the computation of equine lives, her career was full of splendor and success. It was bright and swift, like a comet, and the time of her circling course was calculated with almost as much mathematical accuracy as the orbit of a celestial body. Oue quarter of a second was as important in the measurement of her speed as it would bo in the transit of Venus. She was waited upon like a princess ; she lived in a stable which was more comfortable than many Italian palaces ; when she appeared in public it was amid the acclamations of admiring thousands, and she was worth twenty-five thousand dollars, which is greatly above the commercial value of most men, excepting Congress men and legislators. Her personal qualifications were excellent; she was gentle, kind, and modest; victory was never known to turn her head ; indeed she often won by a neck, and, with more consistency than many politicians, she was never known to bolt. The death of American Girl, like that of Garrick, will sadden the gaiety of nations. So far as sorrow is concerned, the world could have better spared a better man. Wherever the horse is loved this magnificent specimen of the race will be lamented, but regret will be softened by the superb dramatic effect with which her career was closed. As it was figuratively said of Karl Chatham, Thaddeus Stevens, and other distinguished statesmen, so may it be literally said of her that she died in harness. Heath and Goldsmith Maid wero almost the only brutes that could beat her. The old Queen of the Turf has kept a full length in front of Heath for nearly twenty year's, till, baffled in his attempt to catch her, lie entered invisibly in the Klmira races, and, mounted on the w. g. Palo Horse, distanced poor American Girl in the first heat. This defeat broke her heart; but let us hope that the rainbow which, according to the high authority of the Associated Press, rested upon tiro head of the dying marc is typical of her radiant future. If there is indeed a horse heaven she has gone to it. There she will meet with Bucephalus, with tho horses of Achilles, with Balaam’s ass, Eoainante, Happle, and all the mighty steeds of antiquity, to sport with them in fields of immortal bloom and feed upon celestial oats. The ghost of Alexander may be proud to mount her and race against all other quadruped shades, With infinity for a course and eternity for time. When wo remember American Girl in her prime aud all other good homes like Eclipse, Fashion, Flora Temple, Goldsmith Maid, aud tho stallion Patchon, then tho terrible satire of Swift’s “ Gulliver,” where he tolls of the Houyhuhnms,

or horses of superior reason, who had men for servants, seems deprived of much of its sting and bitterness. The inferiority of humanity to the equiued race ceases to be so humiliating. Farewell, then, American Girl ! May the monument which shall be raised to thy memory fitly celebrate thy deeds and virtue ! Well may it be said of thee, “ Green he the turf above thee !” for in life never was there a horse who stepped move lightly upon it.