The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-06-25
European correspondence of the Ohio Statesman.
FROM LO DON.
LETTER NUMBER 8.
LONDON, May "a, 1856

FROM LO DON.
LETTER NUMBER 8.
LONDON, May "a, 1851.
DEAR Col: Although we were a long
time getting to EPSON, we are glad to find
the derby" is not run. Let us mount
upon the top Of the vehicle and look around.
For miles right and left are the people,
The best part of million are here assem-
bled; among them are the royal house OF
Prussia, with their cream colored team, as
well as the poorest ragamuflin, discharged
from Old Bailey. with his stick and cromn-
less hat. The track is upon side hill
turf, and is in excellent order. 1t is a
hundred feet wide, but hardly distinguish
able in the mingled mass of men. There
is little valley between us and the turi.
A continuous rise is used, as fine pros.
pect for the race. The stand is on the
other side, and its adjacent booth is per-
fectly black with heads. All around it for
acres is the same phenomena. Now a
bells rings. The police march up the
track to clear it. We willtake the chance
to look around. Everybody is opening
baskets. Wines and sodas pop; sand.
wiches and shrimps appear; pies and
birds are demolished, amid cries Of "wa-
ter" "oranges. ."-"who wants card to
the races!" Fiddlng and horn-tooiing
all around.-a fool dancing in woman's
clothes, and a red calash on his head. with
a parosol, mimicking fine ladies, while the
fine ladies in lordly carriages are looking
on laughingly; gypsies, wild in look and
with eyes dark and sinister, are rowing
about;-see they have that young man!
"Tell your fortune, pretty gentleman!
You wiU be fortunate, oh yes! only leave
a gypsey sxpence, sir; will be a lucky
one in the race, sir" and she hangs on like
a swapping turtle: all these scenes are
transpiring, while an enormous shout and
laugh goes up from the crowd along the
ropes. The police had cleared the track
it is only dog or loaier trying 10 run
across the track with a policeman alter
Away they 60 in mimic race!
The coasts is clear. With glass you
may see the many colored jockeys mount
ing. Now comes the preparatory gailop-
ing to loosen the horses joints. Up they
ride. and bets begin to run by colors. All
is now still. We cannot see the start.
The cry rises. "they're off" The black
heads in and around the stand are now
sea ofuplurned faces. We hear the tramp
Of horses on the distant turf I1orsemen
ride over the hill to catch the sight. Now
the race-houses appear around the bill
nearly all together; yet so far distant they
seem to move slow: soon they begin to be
clearly distinguished; "IIurrah for the blue
cap!-hurrah for the rcd!-black cap and
pink ahead!" In fine style they dash be-
tween the anxious heads. The tug is be-
tween the black cap and pink, and blue.
Thousands are staked upon the result.
The cry is, now for one-now for the 9TH
er! On they all "bicker and burn TO gain
the expected goal" In twinkling they
dash home. The number is run up, and
the welkin rings with the shout Of immense
multtudes. The track is soon broken
over. The throng rushes toward the stand.
The Derby is done and won Millions
have been lost and won. Freely pop the
wine bottles of the vctors; merrlly ring
eirlaughs Up rise thousands of carrier
pigeons 10 announce the result abroad!
Now comes scene which carries US
back to the good old days Of Queen Bess
such as Scott describes in his kenilworth
the days of the tournaments. Rings
are formed Circus sports are going on
upon the turf; dancing girls are soon trans
muted by some magic from ordinary ie-
males; magical gentlemen begin TO throw
up rings. butcher-knives, etc.; music breaks
out from all sides; gypsies burst anew
from their tents; and-hark "ansum and
interesting presents for hinfants! only a
penny! ave one SIR" "Ere's silver tip
ped buttons for 'olding coats together
made out Of coal'' "Sody-water! ginger
beer-r.r!' and hundred other cries. Be-
yond the turf, the manly sports are going
on, such as firing at targets, pitching at
points, and divers other things to me un-
known. Soon the turfwas cleared again
another race-the same excitement; the
air is again filled with pigeons, who dart
around for awhile uncertain where to 60;
then off, with their news.
Soon we are upon the road homeward,
amid the Aowery meadows, and the hedges
or walls of ivy and sometimes of flowers.
The trees look so trim and perfect. Each
for itself seems "dressed in living green"
As we'll attempt TO separate color from the
rainbow, or extension from matter, as
Beauty from these vistas made by the lines
of elm, Towering chestnut and birch, filed