The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-05-10

sporting characters, came to Paris from Ehgia"u'
and brought their horses with them, expressly
for the occasion.
The two races certainly very amusing
picturesque, and full of incident; much more so
than regular fast running race, such as we nave
at Long Island The jumping OF the bitches,
rivers, streams, hedges, &C., produce much incl
dent and sport In the first race, three OF the
horses with their riders tumbled into the stream,
head over heels, and got regular sousing in the
water. In less than second they were out, on
horseback again, and off as fast their legs
could carry them Two of the horses just oppo-
site where | stood, cleared beautifully fence
six feet high the third broke it down, and the
rest of the horses then galloped through the hole
with great bravery, for it seems no horse will
ever jump fence when there is hole made by
one who preceded him. Lord Strathmore got
prodigious tumble, horse and rider, in clearing
the hedge and ditch, but he picked himself up at
once, shook himself, jumped on horseback, and
was of again in second two. The horse
called the st. Leger, rode by M. Marion, won
the principal race, 10000 francs. 1t is said,
however, that the animal was owned by Lord
Strathmore, who had entered three horses, and
rode one of them himself.
The amusement of the steeple chase is very
different from that of the regular fast race. The
steeple chase is decidedly more full of fun, incl
dent, and picturesqueness. The events OF the
race so laughable, and so droll, that the big
public fool seems to be tickled far more than
otherwise. During these two races, the rain
poured down steadily from the dark clouds.
The roads, lanes, fields, every where, were soak
ed. Those who left their carriages at all, or had
none, were covered with mud and dirt from top
to toe. | saw some fine looking ladies' Of high
rank, countesses, or dutchesses, or princesses,
standing up to their ANGLES in mud, waiting for
their carriages with their beautiful sable cloaks,
and Chantilly lace nantes, worth thousand
dollars each, covered with dirt, and wet with the
rain. Such a draggled and dirty set of people,
going into Paris, was never seen before, since |
some of the last revolutions. Among others, |
observed the famous dansuese, Carlotte Grisi, sit
ting between two gentlemen, in carriage and |
four, and galloping into Paris, as if the
devil was their driver and principal post-boy.
1t took us nearly half an hour before we got
off the field, and an hour to get to Paris.
Whether there was much betting ON the ground,
know not. | suppose there was; but | made |
none myself | never make bets. 1t spols all
the poetical and Intellectual enjoyment of horse
racing, considered as one of the fine arts. The
only exception is in the case of James Grant,
Esq, of Granton, now very capital hair
dresser in Ann street, New York. Once year,
that original Figaro proposes bet of five dollars
with me on the Long Island races, which al
ways lose-how, / know not. But shall have
satisfaction out of him some day, when he sue
ceeds to his titles and estates-especially his
estates in the north of Scotlend, of which he is
native, and belongs to the Grant clan. 1t seems
he has good chance, after few convenient
deaths of those who ahead O. him in point of
inheritance, to succeed to the title of Baronet
and large estates in the Highlands He must
wait patiently, shave and dress hair in Ann
street, till large string of the Grants die of.
Then comes his chance.
But had almost forgotten the steepe- chase.
This species of amusement is slowly natural
zing itself in France but in France they are
slow in every thing, except in fashions, dancing,
cookery, war on England, and revolution at
home. If such race had taken place in New
York, an electric telegraph would have been
erected, to furnish the news in Wall street and
Fulton corner-extras, with full accounts, would
have been issued in an hour after the close, and
splendid descriptions would have been given
nextmornlng in all the journals In Paris all
this is far behind the age. Next morning only
few of the journals noticed the race at all ; and
those who did, made but meagre account Of it.
Had 1t been danseuse, new opera, new
drama, new revolution, they would, per-
haps, have made more of it.
In the evening, as usual, all the theatres were
open; for Sunday makes no difference to the
Parisians; or, rather, it makes difference in
favor of amusements. Even balls and soirees
specially given the holy Sabbath day.
One of the ladies in the party that went with us
to the races, was engaged to 60 to lottery and
ball, given by the celebrated poet Victor Hugo,
who lives in antique style in the Place Royale,
and who forms the centre of coterie of French
society, composed of peers, poets, politicians,
male and female, of the most recherche kind.
French society is all formed of coteres or circles
of this description, each numbering from twenty
to sixty persons, who meet on recognised even
ings at each others houses-are acquainted with
each others talents and tastes, and form sort of
dramatic interest in the events of the day.
Every great man beautiful woman-every
leading spirit of either sex, forms the centre of
such circles, and attracts around them such ma
terals as have like tastes and sympathes The
principal amusements of some are talk, CONVEX
saton, philosophy, poetry, SC. Others dance,
sing, play, nave music or play cards. Each
circle possess their own peculiar characteristics
and tastes. The leading politicians, poets, jour
naliss, sarans have all their particular coteries,
in which every event of the day is discussed,
examined, ridiculed, or praised by both sexes;
for the women GEOGRAPHICALLY the married
ones-take as great role in life as the men
themselves All young unmarried ladies, of
every age, nobodes. They are seldom no.
ticed or spoken to. In fact, Paris is called the
paradise of married ladies'; but the hell of horses
and young ladies'.
forgot to mention that there were several
journalists, or editors, from America, attending
the steepe- chase-one from the lively New
York Spirit offhe Times, who will, no doubt
give a good account of t-also, one two or