A Basket of Chips: An Autobiography

Basket of Chips, page 006

A Bmket of Chips means much; "Will stand without hitching and safe to drive." I soon found that kindness and light loads would do more towards speeding up than any other formula. In many ways he had very good qualities and when it came my turn to sell him I think I could have entered a horse trader's contest. This I knew: that he was mfe, too safe. His ears were always at attention to hear the word "Whoa," and that was my trump card in mak- ing the sale, - to drop the lines and call it out, he would stop so suddenly that you would be jerked forward. He was also very quick at backing, and on any occasion it might happen, the lines were useless there. On one occasion it happened and I will remember it as long as I live and it will explain the splendid force of man - his ever readiness to act in emergency. President Taft had arrived and the city had turned out in everything driveable.!' By then we had a nice little four-seated surrey, and we all embarked for the occasion. My wife, little boy four years old, H. James, and self were in the front seat, the others at the back. We got into the procession with horse- driven and motor-driven cars. People lined the streets each side for many blocks. For some reason the line suddenly stopped in front, and our horse stopped suddenly and started backing. The little boy was instantly thrown out on the ground and would have been trampled, but in less than a minute there were men at every wheel, and at the horse's head, holding all firmly. There has always existed in my heart an unshaped monument of wor- ship for the fine things man can do at the critical moment. Another time we drove in town to see the circus parade. We knew enough to park where there was more room in our rear than in front. The word "whoa" was the safe guard against advancing, but nothing served for the reverse. All went well `till the elephants came along. Sancho had no use for them and we left the performance at a good trot backward. We were ready to return anyway. 0 sional President campaign William of 1910. Howard Taft's visit to Utah was during the congres- 6