304 REMINISCENCES OF SONEPORE. 



Lobo's band played well throughout. As far as the 

 Meeting went socially, it was most enjoyable, and the racing 

 was marred by neither disputes nor disgraceful incidents. 

 The one thing which militated against the Meeting being 

 a record one, was the absence of a lady to take the lead. 

 Invariably this position has been either taken by the 

 wife of the Commissioner of Patna or the Collector of 

 Chupra. This year in both cases things were all upside down. 

 Mr. Bourdillon expecting to be transferred almost directly 

 after the meeting, was only able at the last moment, on hear- 

 ing he was to remain, to hurry up a temporary camp to ac- 

 commodate the L.-G, his Staff and a few personal friends, and 

 did not profess to rule the roost. The same thing was the 

 case at Chupra, Mr. Earle only took over charge a few days- 

 before the meeting, and, like Mr, Bourdillon, had neither 

 furniture nor facilities for running a camp. Mrs. Place, wife 

 of the popular Judge, was at home, and so the Honorary 

 Secretary had to let the camps go as they pleased. At the 

 winding-up supper Mr. Place at the last moment was rushed 

 in to asking those present to drink the Stewards' health, and 

 under other circumstances the toast would have been well 

 received, but the band began to play just as he started,, 

 and up got the dancers and chaos ruled so supreme, that 

 but little he said could be heard. Save Mr. Abbott's the 

 same may be said of most of the rest of the speeches 

 and undoubtedly a good deal of soreness resulted, for it 

 was but fair that men who like Messrs. Longmuir, Mills 

 and Knyvett, to whose exertions those who enjoyed the 

 meeting owed their fun, should have a few kind pats on the 

 back in return. Only those who do the work can grasp what 

 it means to run a show in a place like Sonepore, which has 

 no town near it, and save Mr. Longmuir no resident near 

 at hand, or conceive what the willing labourers have to go- 

 through to ensure everything flowing smoothly to the end. 



