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| Shrady at work was himself an inspiration. Never did any man live and breathe his task than did Shrady. The letters from his pocket, the margins of his newspapers, stray laundry bills, every scrap of paper that was near him show sketches of some part of the memorial; and Mrs Shrady has hundreds of such exhibits. One particular incident, however, is most illustrative of his zeal. In May, 1907, Shrady and his young wife were driving Dandy, the thoroughbred horse which he was using in his modeling. Dandy was a spirited animal, and Shrady never tired of studying the rhythmic action of his muscles. On this occasion he had given the horse his head, allowing him to go at a lively clip. A large dog suddenly rushing out and snapping at Dandy’s heels caused him to bolt at the moment they had reached the apex of a hill and were about to descend on a long serpentine down grade. The frightened horse, with bit in teeth, got completely out of control; but Shrady sat very quietly, and kept saying in a steady voice to his wife “Do not jump!” He continued to struggle to stop the horse, but to no avail; and finally, turning to Mrs. Shrady, said, “I can not stop him; but, if we are not killed, think what a wonderful opportunity has come to me! Just watch the muscles play under Dandy’s skin!” He sat like one fascinated, forgetful of his own danger and even that of his wife, watching the madly plunging horse carrying them to what fate he knew not. After a long interval, during which he no doubt registered in his brain every taut muscle, each play of limb of the runaway horse, he bethought himself of what he had learned in his National Guard training – that the only way to stop a runaway horse who has gotten the bit in his teeth is to climb up over his rear and cut off his wind. Coolly and deliberately this young man did this perilous thing. Clutching the cropper with one hand he pulled himself along the horse’s back, and with the other began to shut off the animal’s wind; but again he hesitated; and for a very considerable space of time he studied from this vantage point the play of the horse’s front limbs and muscles. He then exerted his full power and succeeded in turning the horse into an iron gate. Fortunately neither Mr. nor Mrs. Shrady were permanently injured, but they each sustained a severe shock, and Mr. Shrady was carried unconscious into a near-by dwelling. A doctor and nurse were hastily summoned; and, upon Mr. Shrady’s regaining consciousness, the doctor ordered the room darkened and everyone away that he might enjoy perfect quiet. Some time later the nurse, walking in the garden, noticed that the shade of the window in Mr. Shrady’s room had been raised; and, upon returning, found him busily engaged sketching a runaway horse on the white linen of the bureau cover. |
