LORD ROBERTS AS A HORSEMAN.

Evening Star, Issue 11296, 18 July 1900, Page 6

LORD ROBERTS AS A HORSEMAN.

Lord Roberts lias had few equate In the handling of sword and lance (says a writer in the ‘New Penny Magazine*). He was always especially fond of “ tent-pegging," and so excelled in the difficult diversion that he earned off the first prir.e at the Indian tournament from the whole Indian army when lie wa.S' already past his sixtieth year The love of free, rapid movement soon made him an accomplished cyclist, and ho did much of his work in Ireland, especially at manoeuvres, “ on the wheel.” He so believed in bis bicycle that he induced his staff to follow his example, although all were not equally weH equipped for riding, it. There were many occasions at the Cwrragh when Lord Roberts led them a' fine daaoe and distanced everybody. Ho lias preserved to advanced age the small, spare, wiry figure which has made him almost impervious to fatigue. In youth no doubt he was of delicate constitution, and the tradition survives that when at school be was liable to heart failure, which obliged him to keep wine by his bedside to take if suddenly attacked. He was still constantly liable to fever, although bis abstemious habits and devotion to open-air exercise helped him to conquer the Indian climate. On the famous march from Cabul to Candabar he was, however, suffering from an acute attack, and it speaks volumes for his unconquerable spirit that he travelled nearly the whole distance (300 miles) in a dhoolie (litter),' being quite unable to sit on his horse. Yet, sick and suffering though he was, he never relaxed his watchful care over the force ho was leading into the unknown.