BRITISH SPORT PAST AND PRESENT 



the hare between them. Luncheon succeeds, and the coursers 

 are found in carriages, or on the top of them, on the grass, or 

 sitting on a rail " transacting business " with hampers and 

 parcels which would have done Epsom no discredit. Even a 

 horse and gig rolling in a ditch doesn't rouse them. They were 

 a singularly quiet and well-behaved crowd, and though the 

 stewards had left them pretty nearly to their own devices, 

 in despair of handling so many, they encroached but a very 

 few yards. It was a fine, genial day, and each man seemed 

 bent on good-humoured enjoyment, and an oath or coarse 

 word was almost unheard. 



' Luncheon over, and we got into position for the last time 

 that day, and all along the Engine-house Meadows. For some 

 time it was hopeless to begin, as " fur " was too plentiful ; 

 but at last they came off the fallows by singles, and Master 

 M'Grath was slipped once more. There was no enthusiasm 

 over this course. On he sped raking lengths away from Hard 

 Lines, but after turning his hare he tumbled and got shaken, 

 as he put in no really good work afterwards, and Hard Lines 

 killed. The crowd were quite still and disappointed, but there 

 were some cheers as Lord Lurgan, who loves the sport dearly, 

 and boasted a huge pair of leggings, walked up to him to pat 

 him. 



' Then arose the bronchitic strains of that comical old man 

 who had gone about all day with Master M'Grath blazoned on 

 his hat and selling sweetmeats : " Master M'Grath ^Umbugs ! " 

 followed by a list of the towns in which they were patronized, 

 one of which seemed to have an especial ludicrous suggestion 

 in it. We cannot say that " still his speech was song," but 

 on it ran, " Four a 'penny — / puts it in the sinking J und — my 

 wife takes the money, and I niver see it noe moor.^'' 



' Malt Liquor, Ghillie Galium, and Randolph, a son of 

 Romping Girl, went with immense fire, and some began to 

 fancy Ghillie for the Cup. '''India Rubber 'Umbugs ! — 

 India Rubber ^Umbugs ! ^' from the old quarter, whose wares 

 were re-christened as each good dog won, told of the victory of 



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