1 84 Australian Life 



attending any other race meeting, find their way 

 to the course on Melbourne Cup Day. The Aus- 

 tralian spring is in its most winsome mood, and 

 as fashion has decreed that this shall be the occa- 

 sion when the Australian woman may display 

 her most tasteful dress and most expensive hat, 

 the scene on the great lawn before the grand- 

 stand becomes the most brilliant to be witnessed 

 in all Australia. 



On a big hill behind the grand-stand are the 

 Australian workmen in their thousands, and the 

 hoarse roar of the bookmakers in that part of 

 the race-course is loud and continuous. Half a 

 crown admits to this enclosure, attached to which 

 is a large paddock where wives and families may 

 picnic in comfort. Admission to the area enclosed 

 by the race-course itself is free, and here, too, 

 is a dense crowd, enjoying all the shows and 

 amusements usually seen at a fair. As many as 

 a hundred thousand people have been present on 

 the course to see the race for the cup, and the 

 day is observed as a public holiday in the city. 

 But the interest in the race is not confined to 

 those upon the course. For five shillings, a 

 ticket may be purchased in a cup lottery, and the 

 fortunate drawer of the winning horse learns from 

 the result of the race that he has suddenly 

 stepped into a fortune. The promoter of these 

 lotteries deducts ten per cent, of the money pass- 

 ing through his hand, amounting annually to 

 some hundreds of thousands sterling. Clerks 



