“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”
– George Bernard Shaw
Lord Walter Rothschild with his zebra coach 1895
Rothschild Rides Coach
A dreary day in 1896 London, nothing like a little day drinking to liven the day. Ahh. but when your in the presence of a day drinking Rothschild aire, Leopold de Rothschild, anything can happen…
Much as drinking with buddies goes, a boost was made… The incredible boost was followed by I’m sure a much spirited British debate. The logical outcome to the possibilities presented?
A bet!
Being a Rothschild of course this was no ordinary boost. What was the boost?
The claim was that Mr Hardy, a accomplished horse rider and trainer, was so talented he could train a team of zebra’s to pull a coach… hrough London’s streets…
The ace in the hole for Leopold Rothschild’s boost? Rothschild’s relative, Lord Walter Rothschild, was already known in the family to hook up his prized zebra’s to his coach and ride around. Trained or not he told the zebra’s he was a Rothschild after all…
Mr Hardy with zebra coach London 1898
After Leopold Rothschild was able to get Mr. Hardy to agree to train the zebra’s, his boasting bet was set.
2 years later, Mr. Hardy told L. Rothschild his team of zebra’s were ready for London’s streets.
At 6am, with the fog still hanging in the air, Leopold Rothschild took to the streets of London with Mr. Hardy at the helm of his team of zebra’s claiming victory in his day drinking bet…
Leopold de Rothschild on the streets of London with his zebra team, 1898