298 



so before, it affords a facility for travelling and seeing tlie country at 

 no expense beyond the first cost of the machine. 



Polo, although alluded to by me last in the series of manly games, 

 takes the firfc:t rank, for it is the game of games, the cream of the cream 

 of summer amusement. In fact, I look upon polo as the connecting 

 link between pastime and sport. It has been introduced into this 

 country only within the last comparatively few years, although a 

 game in India of very ancient origin. From the East it was brought to 

 England by, I think, the 9th Lancers in about 1875. It was not in 

 Ireland when I could have gone in for it, and never do I look on at the 

 grand game without regretting the fact. 



Many and great as are the advantages derived from lawn tennis and 

 cycling they, like most new institutions, have done injury to the old 

 ones. Owing to scarcity of money in Ireland amongst those who 

 formerly ga7e them, the good old-fashioned dinner-parties began some 

 years ago to disappear, but directly lawn-tennis went to the front the 

 dinner-parties vanished altogether from the country. It was soon 

 found that with sandwiches, tea, and light claret, people could be 

 brought together in social intercourse in much greater numbers and at 

 a cost of a shilling in the pound as compared with the good dinners 

 and better wines of years before. Pity it was, for at these festive 

 gatherings friends and acquaintances met, and over the mahogany the 

 latter became the former and the former became the faster. 



Cycling for its part is interfering greatly with the utility of the 

 horse, and in many places livery stable owners feel the effects greatly. 



Yes, truly cycling has driven itself rapidly into a most important 

 position on " the road." There it takes the lead, in every sense of the 

 word, of all other means of locomotion. Even coaches, horsed with 

 the best of cattle, changed every seven or eight miles and driven by 

 the best " whips," cannot hold their own with a good man on a bicycle, 

 whether it be over a short or a long distance. The late James Selby's 

 unparalleled performance with four horses from Piccadilly to Brighton 

 and back in 7hrg. 50mins. has since been beaten upon two or three 

 occasions by bicyclists. 



The best record which I have seen was that of Mr. S. F. Edge who, 

 in July, 1890 (evidently to beat Selby's record), started from the White 

 Horse Cellars at 9 a.m. and did the journey from thence to the Ship at 

 Brighton and back in 7hrs. and 3min., taking only three rests— 8min., 

 3min., and 2min. This was at the rate of fifteen miles an hour for 

 nearly seven hours, and that, too, without a cliaiuje. 



Selby's fame nevertheless is safe. He will ever be remembered as 

 the prince of coachmen, not alone for this one performance to Brighton 

 and back, but for his well-known skill as a whip all his life. Men 

 may have been able to drive four horses as well, but no man was 

 ever able to drive them better than James Selby. I knew him, and 

 as a tribute to his memory I make these remarks. For the information 

 of my readers, who do not know the particulars of his Brighton feat, I 

 refer them to my chapter on Driving. 



