ON RACING. 275 



ought to be a mere pastime. But the time 

 seems unfortunately to be nearly past when 

 sport was sport, and work work, a liberal 

 dose of the former being the natural relief 

 and antidote to the over-pressure of the 

 other. It is manifestly a mistake (I believe 

 a very grave one) to import the absorbing 

 energy and mental strain which are essential, 

 in so competitive an age as the present, to 

 the successful conduct of business, into what 

 should be a pure and complete relaxation 

 from the cares and toils of life. 



How many persons, again, now concern 

 themselves with this sport without the least 

 knowledge of or acquaintance with its noble 

 subject ! The Englishman, we are assured, 

 always loves a good horse, and no doubt he 

 generally does when he knows him ; but as 

 a rule he picks his fancy out of a printed 

 list, and often fails to recognise the animal 

 which " carries his money " when he is able 

 to go and see him vun. Generally, perhaps, 



