About Breeches and Boots. 131 



^nd a summer holiday. All the " horsey world ^' were off 

 the stage for this day. One could not mistake the trainer 

 with his wonderfully neat hat, w^ell-trimmed hair and 

 whiskers," or clean-shaven face, carefully tied neckcloth, 

 rather long frock coat fitting exquisitely, rather light dra^ 

 trousers coming over a boot polished with a blacking only 

 known to themselves — I expect those who clean their boots 

 ■** hiss " all the time, as if grooming a horse. Trainers also 

 are especially recognisable by the quick, restless eye, which 

 betrays no expression of thought, but notices everyone 

 from an archbishop downwards, for fear he should be a 

 tout. Then the first-rank jockeys always betray themselves 

 by their neat little figures, well-cut clothes, dogskin gloves 

 and excellent cigars — where do they get them ? I can't get 

 them at the club. A few knowing stable-boys would have 

 looked happier, perhaps, with a little ground ash stick in 

 their hand, and a fox terrier at their heels, but all were 

 •"off the stage " for the afternoon, and the little sticks and 

 little dogs were left at home. I saw INI'George, the starter, 

 pass through them once or twice, but they looked as if they 

 had never seen him before, or had ever been anxious for a 

 start. The huntsmen were scarcer and less recognisable 

 most of them. One hardly ever sees a huntsman except in 

 his professional clothes, whereas jockeys and trainers 

 «warm alive on railways which run to and from a racing 

 •district, and very pleasant companions they often are. To 

 review the match shortly : 1 , the cricket was very fair ; 2, 

 all enjoyed themselves; 3, the match must have been a 

 great financial success ; 4, those of the press who prejudged 

 the question and talked about " burlesque cricket," kc, ttc, 

 ^c, for once in their lives were icliolhj wrong, and as 

 our friend 'Arry, the slang cad, would say, 'Hhe 'unts" 

 men 'ad a fast thing that day with blood at the hend," 

 and the jockeys *' sat do^^ii on their 'orses and walked 

 K— 2 



