THE SPORTS OF THE PEOPLE. BY CECIL. The condition and prosperity of kingdoms have been from time immemorial intimately associated with the sports of the people. Two principal causes operate to produce these effects. Rational, innocent, at the same time invigorating amusements, have an important influence upon the character, manners, habits, energy, courage, health, and welfare of those who participate in them. Thus the first cause is represented; and the other accompanies a season of prosperity, when men naturally seek those enjoyments which contribute to their hilarity. How desirable, therefore, that they should be patronized with judg ment; those which have an evil tendency discountenanced, and those which are advantageous promoted! The two national sports, hunting and racing, rank first on the list; and respecting the chase, there is not a single coincidence connected therewith that the sternest critic can dispute. Racing has its opponents; and there are some events connected therewith which require a regulating and controlling hand, yet they are few compared with the advantages which it produces. A recent melancholy affair has furnished oppositionists with specious arguments. The disclosure of the affairs of poor Cook are unhappy in the extreme; his end was a truly pitiable one; and although he selected racing as the medium through which his disasters were brought to a conclusion, it is inconsistent to permit that amusement to be brought forward as an argument against that pursuit. Have we not examples of even the most sacred occupations being desecrated by associations with the most sinful crimes? The unfortunate Mr. Cook had a mind devoted to speculation; and if there had been no racing to attract his attention, his propensity would have been directed to some other channel, and the effect would have been similar. way schemes have been more destructive to private fortunes than racing ventures; they have, on the other hand, enriched many; and so it ever has been, and ever will be, with all engagements in which speculation can be introduced. The same arguments hold good with respect to Palmer. In him was concentrated every determination to acquire money by any means he could devise: failing in legitimate resources, he had recourse to crimes, one succeeding to another, all devoted to the same object, while desperation urged him on. To assume even that Palmer ever devoted his attention to the turf from love of the sport would be an absurdity; his connection with racing was for the sole purpose of making money, and any other mode of speculation would have been attended with similar results; and it will be equally consistent to ascribe the evils connected with this sad history to the science of chemistry-nay, more so than to the turf. That deadly poison strychnine is a drug the use of which really demands some Rail restrictions beyond those for which the legislature has provided, more particularly since the evidence of the medical profession. When we contemplate its dreadful properties, the minute portions which will destroy life, and the painful torture which it produces, every humane mind must be horrified to know there is such a fearful compound in existence, even if its use were confined to the destruction of vermin. For when it is necessary to put them to death, humanity demands consideration for their sufferings. On former occasions, in these pages, I have very strongly deprecated the use of strychnine for destroying the most noxious animals, and this melancholy event affords a suitable occasion for recurring to the subject. When I mentioned in this publication for October, 1854, the miraculous escape of a farm labourer and his family from being poisoned by a rabbit impregnated with strychnine ostensibly laid for the destruction of foxes, Í expressed an opinion that a bird or animal that had died from strychnine, if consumed by another animal, would cause the destruction also of the latter. I remember having an argument with a friend at the time on that point, and he was of a contrary opinion; but it is quite evident from the investigations and experiments made by the profession that my inference was correct, as I remarked in my former article that "The poison is of that diffusive character, that every portion of the first object becomes impregnated with it, and would consequently impart the effects of the poison to the second." It was given in evidence at Palmer's trial that animals had died after being inoculated with a portion of the contents of a lady's stomach, whose death had been occasioned by strychnine. It was also proved that the presence of strychnine may be detected in the blood, in the liver, in the kidneys, and in other parts. A physician of Canada is reported to have died from the effects of only half a grain; and a learned chemist and toxicologist declared that he can detect the presence of the 50,000th part of a grain! These dreadful consequences are sufficient to deter every well-conducted mind from using this poison, or permitting its use under any circumstance. There is, it is true, a clause in the act passed in the 1st and 2nd of William IV. to provide against laying poison for game; but, unfortunately, like many of our other laws, it is capable of evasion-in other words, it is very difficult to prove a case; but whenever that can be done, offenders should be brought to justice for the benefit of the community, and most especially the sporting and agricultural portions. Strychnine may be laid ostensibly for foxes, rooks, and common vermin, either by means of flesh or grain impregnated therewith; and it is quite as possible that pheasants, partridges, or other birds, even poultry, may consume that grain, as the creatures for which it is intended. Moreover, pheasants are remarkably partial to flesh; therefore whichever medium, whether flesh or grain, be presented, there is a twofold probability that they will be the victims. Hence no person is safe who partakes of a pheasant purchased from a dealer in game, unless there is evidence of its having been killed in the usual manner- by shot; for it might occur that a bird destroyed by poison would be picked up and forwarded with others without a guilty intention on the part of any individual. When we contemplate the vast number of sudden deaths which happen without any ostensible cause, it is far from unreason able to assign some of them to the dreadful and culpable practice of laying strychnine to the destruction of rooks or vermin; and which being taken by game or poultry, is eventually transferred to the stomach of an unfortunate fellow-being. To divest racing, or any other vocation in which speculation bears a part, of every objectionable feature is an utter impossibility; but the regulations which have been introduced in the code of racing laws during the present session are calculated to produce satisfactory results, and are typical of other very important restrictions. One of the chief impediments to turf reform consists in the difficulty of enforcing the rules and regulations of Newmarket at provincial meetings, and this has been for some time conspicuous with respect to selling stakes. The rule lately introduced for this purpose may go towards reforming the devices which have been unfortunately introduced to raise the funds and the popularity of country meetings, but whether they will be sufficiently restrictive to produce the intended effect must be determined by experience. If it is expedient to restrict the running of a horse for a handicap at Newmarket, or any other place within the jurisdiction of the stewards of the Jockey Club, the said horse having previously run at a country meeting for a selling stake, or any other stake, the conditions of which are not in conformity with the rules of Newmarket, it would be more effective if such horses were restricted from being entered or run for any race whatever at the last-named places. The resolution as to raising the weights in handicaps is another step in the right direction. The most decided improvements in racing transactions would unquestionably result, providing the rules and regulations of provincial meetings were uniformly controlled by the rules of the Jockey Club. With a view to that purpose, it is declared that the stewards of the Jockey Club will not adjudicate upon any disputes which may arise at provincial meetings, unless it is expressed in the advertisements that the rules of Newmarket are in force; yet, in opposition to this, it is by no means unusual to find many stakes are so worded as to be completely at variance with the enactments at head-quarters. This is certainly an anomaly quite inconsistent with reason. In the event of a dispute being referred to the stewards of the Jockey Club from any meeting where such irregularities occur, they might very rationally decline to interfere, and an example of that kind would in all probability afford a profitable lesson. Many country meetings have flourished vigorously where the conditions of selling stakes have been at variance with the established rule, and where the questionable attractions of the handicaps have been the ridiculously low scale of weights at which they have commenced. The all-important race of the year, the Derby, has been singularly characterized throughout by events quite contrary to what the antecedents gave promise. Public running has been fallacious in the extreme. The performances of Coroner at two years old were calculated to have established him as first favourite throughout the winter, but that was not the case; while the public running of those which stood in the highest estimation was of that equivocal nature, that no one could accredit them in their respective positions from any other cause than the confidence of those connected with their stables. Thus there was Yellow Jack, Wentworth, Fly-by-Night, and Ellington contending against each other for pre-eminence at the "Corner" till the month of April, when Wentworth coming with a rush took a decided lead, with Cannobie pressing hard upon him after his successful performance for the Burwell stake at Newmarket. Fazzoletto having won the 2,000gs. stake, rose gradually in favour, and at starting assumed the premiership. The defeat of Ellington by Bird-inHand, at Chester, sent him from 8 to 1 to the division ranging between 20 and 30 to 1, from which position he never rallied up to the moment of starting. A more open race than the Derby was, on the morning of the contest, has never been run; and yet the first four horses placed have in their turns held the attractive positions of first favourites. The restoration of peace afforded a suitable opportunity for the indulgence of a festive holiday. It is not necessary here to cavil at the conditions upon which the war was terminated; they might have been more satisfactory and more advantageous-so think politicians; but we must accept the boon as it is with the best grace we can. The day selected was a most appropriate one, the one on which the birth of our most gracious Queen is commemorated, and also the anniversary of the restoration of Charles II. During the period of the Commonwealth, holidays, the sports and amusements-in fact, all the public enjoyments of the people, were put down by civil enactments, the most innocent recreations were censured, and the May-pole and puppet-show were denounced as sinful spectacles. The restoration of the Merry Monarch was succeeded by the restoration of the people's amusements; and although during that reign they were carried to some excess, it is not too much to hope that the rejoicings on the late occasion may be ominous, and afford an impetus and encouragement of all diversions, amusements, sports, and pastimes, consistent with innocent and rational enjoyment. It cannot be denied that for several years past the sports of the people, especially of the rural classes, have been not only neglected, but discountenanced. The village May-pole has once more become a fanciful illusion, connected only with fairy dreams and elf-like phantasies. A morbid degree of sentimentality, a wouldbe righteous-over-much condition has prevailed, affecting country people more than those who congregate in towns. Excursion trains are constantly being provided for the benefit of the working classes of London and other populous places, and they are enabled to enjoy the fine invigorating breezes of the country, with change of scene, and other appetizing excitements conducive to their health, happiness, and prosperity. But those are gratifications to the townsman which would afford no pleasure or benefit to the countryman. A labourer of the county of Oxford would derive no benefit or amusement by a railway trip into Lincolnshire. The only holiday that can be provided for him is one that is congenial with his habits and pursuits, where the activity, skill, and strength of those classes may be put in competition, and inoffensive rivalry stimulate exertion. On ordinary Occasions their diversions are confined to the annual fairs and wakes, where the lower orders are left to their own devices. There are persons who object to festive holidays, under the pretext that they are conducive to drunkenness and impropriety of conduct. In that they are mistaken. The country fair or wake does unquestionably offer inducements for drinking; but it is very different when the assemblage is promoted and presided over by gentlemen of higher station. A good substantial dinner, many of which were provided throughout England on the 29th May, with a moderate quantity of ale, is not productive of intoxication; and the amusements which succeeded attracted the assembled multitude from the beer-shop more powerfully than any argument or authority could effect. Then, how many were busily and happily engaged in the preparation! ladies' faces beaming with delight, as they were designing and constructing garlands, bouquets, rosettes, and other devices to draw forth admiration, each vying with the other which should be most popular and attractive. Somerville has supplied us with such an interesting introduction to the scene of a rural festival, that I cannot avoid extracting his words: "See on the verdant lawn, the gathering crowd The preparation for the feast is not forgotten; the same author says: "Full to the brim, the brazen cauldrons smoke Thro' all the busy camp the rising blaze Attest their joy; heroes and kings forego The gladsome faces assembled at the repast are replete with happiness; every care and trouble is dispelled for the nonce. The old feel young again, and bonny youths pass furtive glances with their buxom partners. "Nor does the jolly god Deny his precious gifts; here jocund swains, A no less interesting scene succeeds, when the "future hopes" of the nation are marshalled in procession, each little child provided with its own cup, to partake of the less substantial, but to them acceptable, entertainment of cakes and tea. How their little eyes beam with extatic delight as their allotted cakes are presented to them! And then all move off to the spacious park, where the majestic oaks afford acceptable shelter from a resplendent sun; or else a spacious common, of less aristocratic pretensions, is chosen as the arena for the rural games. A foot-race is the first event, and rustic youths draw up in line at the starting-post. If they have not undergone the mystic ordeals of training, they are in good healthy condition, and ambi |