AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE H5 



elephants and camels en avant, and no less than seven- 

 teen lions and caravans in the rear. For a time all 

 circulation was suspended as the mob flocked round the 

 beasts like boys round a sweet-stuff woman, and we 

 could not help thinking what a risk was incurred by 

 their transit without more guards than were in attend- 

 ance, for, if they had got irritated and made a rush at 

 Lord Clifden or some other St. Leger favourite, no 

 redress could have been had; and simpletons enough 

 will be found to believe it was une affaire arranges, 

 and indicated strongly the morality of the Turf of the 

 present day. And yet this vast mass of human beings 

 was as tractable as children, and fell into their places 

 in the most good-humoured manner, having no other 

 thought than the Leger. When the bell rang for it, 

 the sensation it produced was overwhelming, although 

 it was a relief to some to think that the excitement 

 would soon be at an end and the worst known. From 

 the stables to the course the passage was as dangerous 

 as being on the streets, and few were bold enough to 

 undertake it; and as the ring was as noisy as a bear- 

 garden and the sides of the gentlemen were gradually 

 getting discoloured from the knockings about they 

 received in squaring their books, they fled for refuge 

 to their stands, which are far more convenient than the 

 Ascot rookery. All the candidates got through their 

 preliminaries well, with the exception of Donnybrook, 

 who was anything but Donnybrook Fair, but, as with 

 Surplice, West Australian, and The Flying Dutchman, 

 Lord Clifden towered high above the others, and, in 

 fact, advertised himself. The scene at that moment 

 was, indeed, a striking one, and such as no other 

 country but our own could produce. On the Moor the 

 masses of England were packed like bees in a hive, and 

 L 



