The Life of a Great Sportsman 



thoughts, no doubt, often went back to that auspicious day for 

 Danebury, when the diminutive Lecturer, who probably did 

 more to replenish the coffers of his extravagant owner than 

 any racehorse he ever owned, lame though he appeared 

 beforehand to those unfamiliar with his ways, cantered away 

 with the Cup from nine others, with that peerless horseman, 

 George Fordham, in the saddle. In so doing he staved off — 

 alas! only for a time — the crash which was bound to come 

 sooner or later. The one consolation was that it was a good 

 time while it lasted. 



Sporting Eton Masters. 



In the 'sixties Eton could boast of two sporting masters, 

 the Rev. " Johnny " Yonge and the Rev. Russell Day, the 

 latter, who, on account of his short stature, was familiarly 

 known as " Parva Dies," being a relative of the Danebury 

 trainer just mentioned, and these invariably made a practice 

 of riding over to Ascot on the Cup day. On these occasions 

 nothing pleased the last-named gentleman better than to catch 

 any Eton boys who happened to have found their way there. 

 For this purpose, he used to give his horse to some one to 

 hold, whilst he himself poked about on foot amongst the 

 carriages, and it was odd if, in the course of his rambles, he 

 did not effect a capture. One of a select covey of juvenile 

 sportsmen, perhaps, on the top of a coach, in full enjoyment 

 of lobster mayonnaise and champagne cup, would suddenly be 

 startled by feeling a pull at his leg, to find, on looking down, 

 that it emanated from " Parva Dies," who had adopted that 

 means of making his presence known. A cheery soul was 

 the Rev. Russell Day, and if he came across any of his 

 victims the next day, I am told, would chaff them about their 



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