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The Gaming Table-Vol.2-Part34_Andrew Steinmetz(1816-1877)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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call themselves, with all these bloodydoings, and with all this

impiety about them--Christians!' Moreover, this ungenerous



diversion was the bane and destruction of thousands, who thus

dissipated their patrimonial fortunes. That its attractions were



irresistible is evident from the difficulty experienced in

suppressing the practice. Down to a very recent date cock-



fighting was carried on in secret,--the police now and then

breaking into the secret pits, dispersing and chasing a motley



crew of noblemen, gentlemen, and 'the scum of rascaldom.'

The practice is very far from having died out; mains are still



fought in various parts of the country; but of course the

greatest precautions are taken to insuresecrecy and to prevent



the interference of the police.

In connection with cock-fighting I remember a horrible incident



that occurred in the West Indies. A gentleman who was

passionately fond of the sport, and prided himself on the



victories of his cocks, had the misfortune to see one of his

birds so terribly wounded in the first onset that, although not



killed, it was impossible for it to continue the fight. His rage

at the mishap knew no bounds, and he vented it madly on the poor



creature. He roasted it alive--standing by and hearing its

piteous cries. In the midst of the horribletorture the wretched



man became so excited that a fit of apoplexy supervened, and he

positively expired before the poor bird at the fire!



CHAPTER XII.

THE TURF, HISTORICAL, SOCIAL, MORAL.



It appears that horse-races were customary at public festivals

even as early as the times of the patriarchs. They originated



among the eastern nations, who were the first to discover the

physical aptitudes of the noble animal and the spirited emulation



of which he is capable. The Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, in

succession, all indulged in the excitement; and it is a curious



fact that the Romans, like the English jockeys of the present

day, rode in different colours.



Horse-racing began very early in England. Fitz-Stephen, who

wrote in the time of Henry VIII., mentions the delight taken by



the citizens of London in the diversion. In the reign of Queen

Elizabeth it appears to have greatly flourished, and to have been



carried to such an excess as to have ruined many of the nobility.

The celebrated George, Earl of Cumberland, is said to have wasted



more of his estates than any of his ancestors, and principally by

his love of the turf and the tilt-yard. In the reign of James



I., Croydon in the South, and Garterly in the North, were

celebrated courses. Camden also states that in 1607 there were



meetings near York, and the prize was a small golden bell; hence

the origin of the saying 'bearing off the bell.'



Lord Herbert of Cherbury denounced the practice. 'The exercise,'

says this gallantphilosopher, 'I do not approve of is running of



horses--there being much CHEATING in that kind,--neither do I see

why a brave man should delight in a creature whose chief use is



to help him to run away.' As far as the cheating is concerned,

the philosopher may be right, but most assuredly his views of the



horse do no credit to his Lordship's understanding.

It appears that the turf-men of those days went on breeding for



shape and speed alone, without considering 'bottom,' until the

reign of Queen Anne; when a public-spirited nobleman left



thirteen plates or purses to be run for, at such places as the

Crown should appoint, upon condition that every horse should



carry twelve stone for the best of three heats--four miles. By

this means a stronger horse was raised, who, if he was not good



enough upon the race-course, made a hunter.

The Merry Monarch, Charles II., had given cups or bowls,



estimated at one hundred guineas value, and upon which the names

of the winning horses, the winner, and jockey were usually



engraved. William III. added to the plates, as did Queen Anne;

but in 1720 George I. discontinued this royal encouragement to



the sport, apparently through sheer meanness. Since that period

'King's Plates' and 'Queen's Plates' have been paid in specie.



In the reign of Charles I. races were performed in Hyde Park; and

until a very recent period 'the Ring' in the Park was the



rendezvous of gentlemen's servants, for the purpose of betting or

making up their betting books.



Newmarket races were established by Charles II., in 1667. Epsom,




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