176 LADIES ON HOESEBACK. 



mass of unsightly mire and dirt. Those on 

 foot ploughed patiently through it, sinking 

 ankle-deep at every step ; those upon horse- 

 back, myself included, churned it beneath 

 their horses' feet, until not a trace was 

 visible of the emerald carpet, which, one short 

 hour before, had afforded firm footing for 

 many thousands of spectators. Three weeks 

 later, I rode through that park again; the 

 velvety turf was green and fresh as ever, nor 

 was there visible one trace of the countless 

 feet which had, as it were, waded over it so 

 short a time before. The day upon which 

 St. Stephen's Park was, through the princely 

 generosity of Lord Ardilaun, opened to the 

 public, was a wet, or at least a damp one, 

 and thousands upon thousands of roughly- 

 shod feet cut up the grassy sward ; yet, 

 in a few brief days, it was rich and ver- 

 dant as before. Nor do I think there is in 

 our noble Phoenix Park a more luxuriant 

 stretch of grass-land than is ^^the nine 

 acres'* upon which polo players continually 

 assemble. 



Having thus, then, endeavoured to prove 



