DEFINING SHARPS AND FLATS 



That was the first good win — sixteen and a half of the 

 very best ; it was something enormous. A successful 

 investment over a horse ridden by Lord Marcus 

 Beresford at the old Woodside course at Croydon, 

 and this followed up by another bet, made me think 

 there was little to learn concerning racing. But how 

 much we can be taught ! When on occasions we 

 listen to the vapourings of many we know concerning 

 what they have done, and how they have " did " it, it 

 makes us sympathetic for those whom they may come 

 in touch with in the domestic relationship. Inci- 

 dentally it is always such a nuisance to introduce one 

 of these bores with reminiscences of the stupid kind to 

 a man who has forgotten everything there is on both 

 the tough and academic side of it. In the case of the 

 latter being a bookmaker, or a pure and simple un- 

 imaginative racing man, there is short shrift given to 

 the amateur (English sense) ; he is either absolutely 

 rude to the prosy acquaintance ; turns him down or 

 ignores him, saying to one in a loud stage whisper: 

 " Who's the mug ? " I daresay you've had experi- 

 ences like I have with a certain type of racing men ; 

 the rest of the world are classified into " clever " and 

 " muggish," which really, being translated, means 

 sharps and flats. 



It is inevitable to feel that the foregoing is to an 

 extent a sort of preface to what shall be a record of 

 a great many years of experiences with every class of 

 men and certain absolutely true statements of those 

 I have met, and the impressions which have been 

 gained in wandering in different parts of the world 

 and finding myself in all sorts of conditions of people 

 dwelling therein. 



