158 



Beyond therefore, mentioning in a whisper^ that if busy rumour 

 speaks true and frivolity has its way, other balls are things of the not 

 distant future. I have merely to speak of the Paperchase and Polo 

 match, which are both worthy of record. 



Paperchase. -Marching orders for the morning of the 3rd of June 

 having been sent round from the boudoir to the stable, there was a 

 general girding up of girths, and application of momrogan to hunting 

 saddles, and at the meet there has seldom before been seen such a 

 gathering. Fully 40 people on horseback, including four or five ladies, 

 and mirabile dictu, three or four barouches, the occupants of which, 

 apart from their keen appreciation of sport in all its phases, perhaps, 

 had in their minds the adage — 



Myrtilla rising with the dawn 

 Steals blushes from the rosy morn. 

 But if Myrtilla sleeps till ten, 

 Aurora steals them back again. 



The foxes were two noted performers, the very boys to make the 

 field cry " Capivi " as old Jorrocks used to say, and were carried by 

 Chuckerbere and Countess, the latter with that elegant rider Mr 

 Latham up, to whom the thanks of the community are principally due 

 for the morning's sport. After the usual law had been given, a field 

 of 25 horsemen rushed off in pursuit, amongst whom we recognised 

 several old friends steered by the accustomed hands. Firstly, the 

 corky Bachelor, who, until he was thrown off the scent near the 

 finish (perhaps by a bunch of '' stinking " violets), led the whole way, 

 and next in close attendance were Duchess, Mephistopheles (the 

 original imp with the diabolical pedigree) the Man of Kent, Red Deer, 

 Charlton, the Badger Abbess, Jute Butts, and Mr. Sunder on the 

 Gadha. The ground was soft, the jumping very sweet, and the pace 

 so hot that in a very brief space after the foxes had got safely to earth, 

 the leaders were down on them. Duchess and Mephistopheles were 

 first, and raced "sixteen annis " side by side at the last jump, a big 

 mud wall with a ditch at the near side, both landing over in fine form ; 

 but Duchess getting just the best of it at the finish came in first, much 

 to the delight of her enthusiastic rider, the Man being close behind' 

 Mephistopheles third, Bachelor fourth, and a swarm of nags fifth, but 

 the Gadha being last got the prize. There were several spills, and 

 I am sorry to say that a young lady who was going in a plucky style 

 came to grief, but I believe she was not hurt. A capital chase and a 

 capital course was the universally expressed sentiment, and I recommend 

 the lovers of this sport, which, in the absence of the real thing, is the 

 best sub«?titute going for *' the sport of kings and the h'image of war 

 with all the excitement and only five and twenty per cent, of the danger," 



