THE SPORTING WORLD. 113 



ever be so, for the mind of man is so con- 

 stituted that it cannot exist without excitement; 

 but were we to do away with racing we 

 should not be a bit forwarder on the score of 

 improvement or rather reformation. Take away 

 any thing from which man derives amusement 

 and excitement, he will find a succedaneum, for 

 we are but too well aware that excitement is 

 the touch-stone to man's amusement. The bet- 

 ting on racins: is a mere bagatelle when put in 

 comparison with the far more fatal dice box. 

 Do away with that you would not stop betting 

 and play. Shut up all the rouge and noir 

 tables in London, men would chalk out its 

 similitude to one on a common table covered 

 with baize. Thus the argument that racing 

 promotes betting (though fact) becomes futile. 

 They bet largely on racing, granted; it is a pur- 

 suit that admits of high and extensive betting, 

 and men bet accordingly. If all betting could 

 be at once stopped by putting down racing, put 



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