266 WAYFARING NOTIONS 



real old-fashioned commercial hotel such, for in- 

 stance, as the White Hart at Spalding. The 

 landlord is mine host not only ex officio but by- 

 inclination to welcome his customers as guests. 

 You are not a number, but Mr Somebody, and 

 your little likes and dislikes are remembered and 

 dealt with accordingly. The chambermaid knows 

 about the window being closed or open, and how 

 you want your bath. The waitress tells you what 

 you would like to eat rather than lets you make 

 out a bill of fare for yourself, and the boots not 

 only sees to the booting department, but has at 

 his fingers' ends all details of trains, junctions, 

 excess luggage, and innumerable details useful to 

 the traveller. The young lady at the back re- 

 collects your particular vanity, and takes care that 

 letters left over from a former visit are at last 

 delivered. 



By way of a change one September, I 

 managed to take a turn at Devonshire steeple- 

 chasing, in fulfilment of a promise made to myself 

 a long while ago, and never redeemed though 

 frequently renewed. A great institution is 

 Totnes old-fashioned meeting — " Totnes and 

 Bridgetown Races and Steeplechases," as 

 described on the bill of the play, otherwise card 

 • — and one that all right-thinking sportsmen 

 should support and encourage as much as 

 possible. Grand-stands are provided gratis by 

 nature or circumstances unconnected with the 

 executive, and regardless of contributions levied 

 in support of the expenses of the establishment. 

 You can settle yourself in a gratis front seat, or 

 if you happen to make a plural, any number of 

 front seats, on the actual bank of the river, 

 which makes so important a feature in the land- 



