*J TALES AND TRAITS OF SPORTING LIFE. 



bowed down l)efbre it ; fellows whose mothers and sisters 

 went to Court every time the Com-t went itself; long- 

 pedigreed gentlemen with uncles in '^ the Lords ;" young- 

 Pluti, with family fortunes in the Indies — all alike sung 

 small before our rather overdone terms and technicalities. 

 The very masters occasionally " opened" on it ; and the 

 action of qaadrupedante putrewj the force of sunt quos 

 curricuh, or anything of that sort, generally ended in 

 coming to us for an authority or an example. We had 

 all the pride of the sportsman here, and, upon my life ! I 

 really believe, without ever having once suifered for the 

 propensity. 



My " hobby dyhoyish" days followed suit about as 

 naturally as could be expected. 'For fidus Achates I won't 

 answer, as he started to stifle his early impressions amongst 

 the Rajahs and tigers. For self, however, the fates were 

 j)ropitious. At nineteen, I subscribed to the '^ Calendar," 

 and studied the *'Stud Book." At two-and-twent}^, I 

 could handicap horses — aye, and weigh them well too. 

 The propensity began to develop itself in earnest ; and as 

 fast and firm as ever came the love of '^ a bit of coaching " 

 across some of us, came the desire for *^ a bit of plating " 

 on me. 



*' Nice, quiet, clean little place this, waiter — market- 

 town, too — isn't it?" 



*^0h! dear, yes, sir; corn and cattle market every 

 Saturday, and butter and e^g market every Wednesday 

 as well." 



*' Ah ! indeed; and any sport too ?" 



♦^ Beg pardon, sir, — any what?" 



"Any sport— any I'acing?" 



" Racing, sir ! Races every autumn ; two days, sir ; 

 balls and ordinaries held at this house, sir ; very capital 



