HORSE FAIR IN IRELAND. A TOLERABLY FAIR SAMPLE OF PANDEMONIUM LET LOOSE.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 180, 27 November 1886, Page 6

HORSE FAIR IN IRELAND. A TOLERABLY FAIR SAMPLE OF PANDEMONIUM LET LOOSE.

Every Conceivable Class of Hen and Horses Present— Two Men Shake Hands —What it Means-England and Ireland Driving a Bargain— Bidding.

To a novice an Irish fair appears to be pondemonium let loose. The main street is the showground and ride, and a convenient field, with a stone wall or two, ssrves the purposes of the "manege." Suoh a whooping and yelling ! Droves of wild young colts, rough, unkempt looking animals rushing madly about, with Pat riding barebacked as easy as a glove, with nothing but a " bit of a twig " and a halter for a bridle. Every conceivable class ot animals is here, both biped and quadruped. The hunter which, if properly got up, will fetch in England a couple of hundred, ia Bide by side with a screw not worth as many pence, and the autocrat of the dealer 'a yard may be seen in close confabulation with what looks like a prime dynamiter ; while above all the din and jangle floats an aroma of whiskey and tobacco, to say nothing of blarney and bad language. But what is goin? on in the corner of tho wall T A email crowd is gathered there, and from your position you can just make out one of the men who crossed in the boat standing opposite a true son of Erin in the middle of a small ring, and seemingly either fighting or endeavouring to shake him by the hand — which ? You cannot quite make out. Presently the crowd breaks up with a cheer, and you can see plainly now the two men shake hands, and to your surprise money passes between them. Can it have been a prize-fight at all ? No, it ia only a deal, and if we come a littlo nearer to thia new lot that are forming a ring we shall see. As we approach a lane is formed, and the vision of a flying colt appears, ridden bare backed by a bright-looking lad. Over the wall is the order, and Pat, steadying his mount, takes it in firstclasa form. Then the crowd closes in, and two figures stand opposite each other —England and Ireland.

England and Ireland Bargaining. " VPell, what's the price?" says England. " It's just the foinest little heree in the fair this day, and I'll not be selling him under £120, and that's dirt-chape," replies Ireland, holding out his hand, " Forty," says England, making a dire at the paw. Ireland is too quick, however, and snatches it away before England can grasp it, saying at the same time with an air ol disdain : " Forty ' and for a baste like that that the lord lieutenant would be proud to be seen on la ittrying to blarney me that you are ! I'll just let you have it for £100 pounds, and not a penny leap," and out goes the hand again. This time England springs a tenner, and the same pantomime is gone through, with the exception that England nearly catches the outstretched member this time, and raises a laugh and " Mind your eye, Pat," from the crowd. After every bid this goes on, and at sixty-five England catches Ireland by the hand and shakes it heartily, thereby signifying thai; it is a deal. The crowd cheer, the two go off together to cement the bargain with a " dhrop of the cratur." This is the way most of the deals are carried on, and it is an unwritten law that if you happen to be quick enough to catch hold of the hand of your offer, the horse becomes your property for the amount of your bid. — "Scottish Agricultural Gazette."