The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-15 00:00:00

could once see a girl in the agonies of burning, and
hear her shrieks : if they could once encounter the
little procession carrying a child to the hospital, his
back broken by a lady's petticoat having swept him
under the wheels of a dray ; if they could see a fac-
tory girl caught by the skirt, and crushed before
the shaft could be stopped, they would gladly wear
any shape of gown for the rest of their days
rather than be responsible, in the millioneth
degree, for any more such intolerable spec-
tacles. But who is to move ? There are ladies,
and not a very few, who have throughout de.
dined making themselves foolish and mischievous;
there are millowners who have interdicted crinoline
in their factories, and hospital authorities who in-
sist on rational and inoffensive dress in the wards.
But who will introduce a change in places of less
grave occupation—at home, and in scenes of public
I resort ?

Surely we may look for this to the first lady of
the land. She has never exhibited the extreme of
that or any other fashion, and it must naturally be
a consideration with her that whatever mode she
adopts will be exaggerated by others. When her
daughter was on fire, some years since, from her
hanging sleeve catching the flame as she was seal-
ing a letter, the Quern adopted in the royal laundry
the mode of starching muslins which prevents their
burning dangerously, and in multitudes of private
houses the example has been followed. If it had
been as well known in America the house of the
poet Longfellow would not now have been desolate,
and the six ballet-dancers at Philadelphia, whose
fate has shocked us all, would have been living
still. If the Queen were known to discountenance,
practically and expressly, the fashion of hoops,
which renders it but too easy to set women and
children on fire, and impossible to put it out, the
evil would immediately disappear from our draw-
ing-rooms--presently after from the farmhouse, the
shop, and the schoolroom—and ere long from the
kitchen and the workhouse. Meantime a coroner's
jury has pointed out to our countrywomen a respon-
sibility which we trust they will, of their own free
will, take to heart, so as to be ready to follow the
royal example which we anticipate; or, if that
should be wanting, to act without it in that sphere
of home in which every English matron is a queen.
—Daily News.

PEDESTRIANIS3I.

WEST BROMPTON.

FOUR MILES RACE BETWEEN DEERFOOT, THE
INDIAN, AND WILLIAM JACKSON, THE AMERICAN
DEEII.—The Indian, it will be recollected, came to
England from America early in August last, and
although not more than two months has elapsed
since his arrival, that brief time has been sufficient
to win the foremost place as a runner. As all that
appertains to the career and doings of this really
wonderful runner possesses interest, we may here
mention the men with whom he has already con-
tended. The first match was with E. Mills, of
Bethnal-green, for £25 a side, 'and the six, miles
champion belt, when Mills proved the winner ; but
although the Indian was upon that occasion de-
feated, the style in which he ran at once stamped
him a pedestrian of high capabilities, and it is not
a little for Mills to boast that he in this struggle
had the fortune to be victorious, as the Englishman
ran this race under no slight difficulties, having
suffered, while training, with a bad foot. The next
match in which the Indian figured was on Monday,
Sept. 16, at the Copenhagen Grounds, Manchester,
when, in the presence of thousands, he defeated
John White, the" pet runner of the North," in this
memorable four-mile race for £5O, the Indian being
allowed 50 yards start. Although White was de-
feated in this brilliant struggle, it is only just to
state that among his friends he lost no feather of
his popularity, as no man could have struggled with
greater perseverance; and defeat by his admirers
was alone attributed to the fact of his having to
allow a:start to such an opponent as " the stranger;"
who, it was admitted by all, was well able to have
contended with the Manchester champion on even
terms. After this race, on Monday, the 23d of Sept.
at Hackney-wick, Deerfoot contended for the Ten
Miles' Champion Cup and £6O in specie, when
he again proved triumphant, running those who
opposed him to a stand-still. After this he ran
John Levett (once 'the fastest ten-mile runner
of his day), at the Rotunda Gardens, Dub-
lin, for £5O, and disposed of him with
ease. This race took place on Monday, the 30th
of September, and on the following Monday (Oct. 6)
he again ran in Ireland. On this occasion the dis-
tance was 12 miles, when he was once more victori-
ous, displaying his speed and endurance in this
struggle in a p,re-eminent degree, the twelve miles
being run in 65 ni,.n.6 sec., beating his old opponent
Levett, with three
inutes start, at seven miles,
"and again running little Mills so completely down
that on the termination Glf the tenth mile he
fainted, and was carried off th.l ground. It will
thus be seen, that with but one ngle exception,
he has been successful in all the mat Ches in which
he has been engacsed. The doings of Wi.2lialn Jack-
son are familiar to all who take an interm, in this
popular pastime ; and, taking all in all, a mca:e ex-
traordinary runner never stood before the pm.'slic
during the long number of years (more than 22;
he has been "on the road.' The multitude of
matches he has during that period been engaged
in, both in England and America, would fill a
column. On American soil, 17 years since, he beat,
at all distances, the "red skins" brought against
him, and at his age yesterday's defeat was a cre-
dible proof of how much he can yet do. The
struggle took place yesterday, on Mr. J. Roberts's
Ground, Brompton, and such was the interest the
event produced that there could not be much less
than 6,000 spedtators assembled on the ground.
Reserved seats were provided by the proprietor,
for which an additional price was charged, but
towards the time of starting so dense became the
crowd that they broke down the barriers, and
having achieved this, took possession of the green,
and arranged themselves some three deep all round
the course. Some who had paid the extra for re-
served seats, complained of being thus interfered
with in this unceremonious manner, but it is only
right to say that the proprietor might as well have
tried to stay the waves as to have prevented the
rush of the human tide. The race had been fixed
to be run at four o'clock, and soon after the time
named the competitors made their appearance,
Deerfoot, who was waited on by Mills, being
the first to do so, although Jackson was not more
than two or three minutes behind. The same
excitement prevailed to get a peep at the
" Apollo of the Forest" as on former
occasions. The Indian was dressed in the same
fashion as when he ran Mills at Hackney Wick,
having his body dress of red and white, ornamented
with bells, while round his head he wore a red
braided band, in which was placed an eagle's
feather. He was much thinner than when we last
saw him, and altogether was in better trim than
he had been on any preceding occasion. Jackson,
who had trained at Wandsworth also, looked well
for an " old 'un," and so satisfactorily had he run
his trials that it was considered by many that the
Indian would have to do all he knew to win, the
shortness of the distance beinglooked on as a point
in Jackson's favour. As Jackson is of small stature,
the contrast between the Paleface and the Redskin
was striking. The competitors walked gently over
the ground, Jem Mace (the Champion), who took
great interest in the match, forming one of the In-
dian's train. As they proceeded round the ground
they were received with much enthusiasm. To com-
plete the four miles they had to make the circuit of
the course 16 times.
The preparatory matters having been adjusted,
the competitors took up their position at the mark,
and on the word off being given bounded away. On
starting the competitors went away level, and con-
tinued to keep side by side for something like 30 or
40 yards, when Deerfoot came to the front, and just
headed his man. " The Indian has taken lead," was
shouted by a hundred voices. As they went round
the bend of the course the Indian made one of those
spurts for which he is now famous, and though
there was the same rolling, rocking gait in his
action, for which he is noted, still, from
the wonderful style in which he] was covering
the ground, there could be no mistake in his run-
ning. Jackson, too, who in style and action formed
a striking contrast to his opponent, was also run-
ning remarkably well, and on the finish of the first
lap (440 yards) was not more than three yards in
the rear, indeed, according to his accustomed prac-
tice he was waiting on his man. Throughout the
second lap there was not the slightest variation in
the positions of the men, the lead still maintained
by the Indian, the " music of whose bells " an-
nounced
his approach before he could be well seen.
When the third lap (three-quarters of a mile) had
been commenced, Red Skin was still about three
yards in front of his opponent. As they were racing
this lap, and while they were going down the side
of the course, it was imagined that Jackson had
passed his opponent, but this was found not to b. e
case; Mille, who ran just in front of his man, in
waiting on him, being, by these in the distance,
taken for the American Deer. No sooner had the
fourth lap been commenced than Jackson raaa d
For few
pretty effort, and closed upon his man.
strides they kept together, when Deerfoot gathered
himself up, made a vigorous dash, and soon left his
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