PRKFACE. 



XVII 



never had anything to do with it a century ago ; but facilities for locomotion and 

 opportunities of cheap enjoyment have so increased that a man of very moderate 

 means is now given the opportunity of losing his money handsomely from one 

 end of England to the other, and that, too, without leaving his own home unless 

 he likes. 



The evils and excesses which have thus arisen are perhaps a necessary 



r 



An Example of Inslantanceut Photography, ty frrmitsion 

 of Ike" Ilhulraltd Sporting and Dramatic titm" 



Vie Finish of the Eclipse Stakes. 



Samiomt, 1901. 



consequence of civilised evolution. At any rate, I do not mean to imply that every 

 eighteenth century sportsman was a Galahad. It would not have been possible for 

 bookmakers ever to have come into existence at all had not a complaint been fairly 

 general that men could not get on enough money when owners only betted with each 

 other. Modern enclosures give far more chance to betting-agents, touts, and all 

 their tribe, than did the old country meetings ; and the telegraph and printing-press 



have still further increased the ramifications of that quickly-growing organisation 

 VOL. i. c 



