IN DEVONSHIRE 269 



the week is to Lord's on a 'Varsity day. 

 Perhaps I am prejudiced, but I always fancy that 

 the ladies on the St Lawrence cricket field beat 

 their sisters at Lord's. To this theory, I am 

 aware admissible objection may be laid, in that 

 so many present at the one are also in evidence 

 at the other venue. But I do not give in farther 

 than to admit that this may be so, and get over 

 the difficulty by contending that those who grace 

 both fields look better at the Kent than the 

 Middlesex ground. As a matter of fact, there 

 were at Totnes many fair patrons of sport who 

 are well known at the '' Parks," Ascot, Goodwood, 

 Newmarket, etc. That, as I say, does not alter 

 my case, which is that I never saw a gathering of 

 typical English beauty to beat this one. In this 

 respect Totnes is indeed favoured, and also by 

 the support of all classes. Its racing is not 

 classically great, and naturally, where the acces- 

 sories are more or less temporary, some of it must 

 be of the rough-and-ready order. But if you ran 

 the Derby, the Ascot Cup, the Grand National, 

 and St Leger here all in one day, the really 

 influential patronage, as evidenced by attendance, 

 might not be stronger. The country-side, also 

 the townsfolk from near and far, could scarcely 

 take more genuine interest, nor would matters 

 pass off better as regards management. 



To all readers, whether interested in racing 

 or not, who may be glad of pleasing novelty, I 

 say, go to Totnes. The town is quaint, its 

 church is very interesting (an old friend of mine), 

 the country round is beautiful, not counting the 

 Dart's charms, which have long been recognised 

 as, in Devonian eyes, some good bit in front of 

 anything that the Continent, Rhine and all, can 



