46 STEEPLECHASING 



that it Is said the boots he is represented wearing in 

 Herring's "Steeplechase Cracks" were made, the legs 

 by Bartley of Oxford Street, and the feet by Wren of 

 Knightsbridge. Moreover, he Is said always to have 

 worn white kid gloves when riding in a steeplechase. 

 After a time Jem's health gave way. The doctors pulled 

 him partially round and he resumed hunting, but soon 

 became so weak that he could scarcely sit his horse. 

 What was the matter with him the doctors did not quite 

 know ; they were divided In their opinions, some in- 

 clining to the idea that he had cancer, others thinking 

 that he was in a consumption. Jem underwent the 

 operation for tracheotomy, but he was past human aid. 

 He died in October 1866, and was buried at Kensal 

 Green, not a great way from the scene of many of his 

 riding exploits. Up to about a dozen years ago at any 

 rate, two of the sisters of Jem and Newcomb Mason — • 

 the Misses Ellen and Harriett — were livincr In the neieh- 

 bourhood of Maida Vale. 



Colonel Charretie, who was to have been umpire In 

 this year, as already stated, was an Irishman by birth, and 

 he took as kindly to sport as do most of his countrymen. 

 The Colonel, born in 1784, was not more than a lad when 

 he joined one of the regiments of Life Guards, and 

 served with them at Waterloo, being then a Captain. 

 He was an intimate friend of Colonel Berkeley and was 

 invariably at Berkeley Castle when the Colonel was 

 keeping open house and holding the "at homes," and, 

 as one of his friends remarked, few men saw more of 

 life In London and elsewhere than did Colonel Charretie. 

 The same friend left it on record that self-interest and a 

 desire to oret the better of his neighbour was his ruling 

 passion, nor did it abate until within a few months 

 of his death. He fought several duels, but always 

 managed to come off with flying colours and without 

 a scratch. Cheltenham, then a very lively place, he 



