The Betting Ring. 5 7 



the Ring men, on the whole, are creatures of fine 

 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 2OO/. to take a man, who had no claim whatever 

 on him, out of jail. It was also only recently, 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 ioo/. contingency had 

 become due. His answer was simply to the effect 

 that there must be some mistake, as he had promised 

 ISO/., not ioo/., 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," well know what quaint humour can make 

 out of slender materials. They delight in perverting 

 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 Graeculus Esuriens seemed to have 

 his nomenclature altered as each Monday came round 

 Paying in copper was a freak which delighted every 

 one 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 

 Trapp-er, who was such a giant, that young John Day 

 solemnly assured 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 

 whereabouts of The Reiver, the long or short O in 

 Iliona, and all such 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 



