THE BETTING RING. 65 



rough impulse, whenever it is called forth. Few men 

 are more charitable if a case of real distress comes 

 within their notice ; and we have known one of them 

 pay 200 to take a man, who had no claim whatever 

 on him, out of jail. It was also only last year, too, 

 that a bookmaker received a letter from a breeder, 

 soon after a colt he had purchased from him had won 

 a race, to remind him that a 100 contingency had 

 become due. His answer was simply to the effect 

 that there must be some mistake, as he had promised 

 150, not 100, if ever the colt won; and a cheque 

 for the larger sum was ,duly enclosed. Ring jokes 

 are unique, and those who have heard the popular 

 stories of " the gilded watch," and " Jenny bring the 

 sledge-hammer 9 " well know what quaint humour can 

 make out of slender materials. They delight in per- 

 verting names : II Penseroso, Gemma di Vergy, La 

 Fille Mai Gardee, and Springy Jack, became Bill 

 Spencer the Grocer, Jemmy the Virgin, The Female 

 Guard, and Elastic John; and Grasculus , Esuriens 

 seemed to have his nomenclature altered as each 

 Monday came round. Paying in copper was a freak 

 which delighted everyone amazingly, except the 

 victim, who went scouring off in a cab up to his 

 knees in the baser metal; and so did the sundry 

 speculations as to the height of The Trapper, who 

 was such a giant, that young John Day solemnly as- 

 sured Nat, as he was saddling him for the St. Leger, 

 that he ' ' had ordered a pair of steps in the town," 

 and that they would be there directly; and added, for 

 his comfort, that Dr. O'Toole would " very probably 

 run slap under him if he got in front." The where- 

 abouts of The Reiver, the long or short O in Iliona, 

 and all Nuch strange things, were also worked in their 

 turn. Their " chaff" is unrivalled; but their retorts 

 are perhaps rather rough and ready than neat. We 

 never heard any of them rival the poacher who sauced 

 the late Bishop of Carlisle (when he told him who he 



