CHASING AND RACING 211 



kindly, if gruff, soul) visited the prisoner at Nice. The 

 latter was shown into the reception-room wearing a 

 black cape and hood which concealed his features. 

 Before Day could say a word, Benzon shouted out 

 excitedly : 



"Hulloa, Day. Who won the Grand Prix?" 

 (meaning the great Monte Carlo pigeon-shooting 

 event). 



The indomitable sporting afflatus was still alive. 

 The last I saw of this " curiosity " was at Romano's. 

 He had then grown fat and flabby, but not, I think, 

 from excess, for I never remember to have seen him the 

 worse for liquor. In fact, as regards indulgence in 

 the three lethal W's, " Wine, Weeds, and Women," he 

 was moderation personified ; but nevertheless he died 

 at a comparatively early age. Those who regretted 

 him most and who remembered him with kindliest 

 feelings, were those who had benefited least by his 

 wild gambling and lavish generosity. R.I.P.! 



There is an erroneous impression extant that 

 " Tod " Sloan was the first American jockey to exploit 

 the " monkey crouch " in this country. As a matter 

 of fact, it was introduced by a compatriot of his, one 

 Simms, a mulatto or quadroon, who won several races 

 and attracted considerable attention, owing to what 

 was at that time considered an extraordinary seat. 

 But even before Simms there was an inconspicuous 

 amateur who adopted the " crouch " in a modified 



