Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-10-30

sttution-all things are institutions a. now "a
days"-is attracting even more attention among
turtles abroad than at home, as much as IL is dis
Cussed among our friends prone to be seen OF
afternoons behind fast 'uns far out on Fourteenth
street CORES pondent Of I" Porter's Spirit Of
the Times places the subject in a light wherein
1t should command attention from all here-as
follows: .. SO. u
CD. P" ON A NATIONAL JOCKEY CLUB At WASH
wAsnINsroN CRY, Oct TO-
GENTLEMEN Public attention has been fire.
onsnt,y directed IN the importanee Of b,ving .
a. Jockey Club established at this place
Whether we shall succeed in getting one Is rather
problematical; but / sincerely hope we never
Shall have an institution OF that kind unless il be
one Of the very first class. Let Us have no Jockey
Club at all unless We can have such a one as
would be ereditabie to the nation, and pTomi-
nent establishment Of the Federal Metropolis.
Having long ago most reluctantly abandoned
all hope OF ever seeing such a club here, / yen-
turrd to advocate the early establishment Of
well regulated racing organization at Richmond.
And must now say, in all candOr, that my only
hope, in that regard, still fingers around that
time-hOnored racing locality.
But am, nevertheless, confident that we have
in this city and its vicinity all the materials
requisite for such 90 a Jockey Club as Is impera-
lively demanded by the Spirit Of the Times IL
may be Of rather questionable propriety to use
the names of distinguished gentlemen in this
connection; but as IT has been already done by
others, feel lmPelied to follow the example. for
once only.
Ifsuch gentlemen as Col w w Corccrln, Gen.
George Gibson, Benjamin Ogle TayIoe Esq
and other prominent residents In private life aud
others OF great official distinction would take the
matter in hand. We would very soon have a Club
the like Of which has never existed i'm this coun-
try. j do not mean that the whole burden of the
undertaking should fall upon their shoulders
They would at once attract powerful and most
COBgenial auxiliaries by scores and hundreds
The very sIise of the accomplished and wealthy
circles Of Maryland and Virginia would come to
their aid, and by their cOunsels and contributions
make the whole enterprise anything but burden
some or oppressive.
Should meeting Of such gentlemen ever be in
vited, they could not do a better thing than to
consult l. b. Irving, Esq, Of South Carolina He
could give them suggestions and advice that
would be absolutely Invaluable. Indeed, if he
would consent to take the position they could not
do a better thing than to make him their perma-
nsnt Secretary, to conduct their correspondence
and to have charge of all matters of detail and
the current and constantly accommodating business
Of the Club placed in his experienced and accom-
piished hands. He would preserve its affairs in
i sound and Ineligible condition, and keep the
Association out of a world of trouble.
1t must be kept in mind that l am talking
about "a national institution of real magni-
tude, OF enduring basis, and to be inherently and
exclusively under the control of gentlemen
Such Club would require capital of not
less than fifty thousand dollars to begin with A
suitable tract Of land would have to be purchas-
ed, and graded properly. There must be an ap-
propriate club house, public and private stands
and all such fixtures and appointments as would
conduce to the comfort and comport with the
presence OF thousand. Of refined ladies and ac-
cOmpiished gentlemen. VulParity and rutfian-
ism would. Of course, be excluded from the in
closure and no scenes permitted that could shock
purity or taste.
W hat would be the results of such an institu
ton as that? One great point gained would be
legitimate horse-racing. Taking it for granted
tkatthe purses and stakes would be of the most
attractive character, We would have cOntending
nays Of the best blood and speed from all the ra-
cling regions Of the United States At each of
these race meetings, we should have in this city,
on weeks visit, not less than five thousand
strangers Of wealth and Tespectabilty How
much money would such a congregation as that
leave in the pockets Of the people OF this metro
polls, Certainly not less than sJO,OOO; and how
much more, 1.-The tall of York" alone can
tell. How much money could the Messrs Brown
and the Aessrs. Willard afford to subscribe to
an institution which would cram their mammoth
hotels with ladies and gentlemen Of the very fl st
class How much could prominent mer-
chants subscribe when, at least once or twice a
year, their stores would be almost emptled by the
cash demands Of thousands Of strangers from the
contiguous neighbOrhOOds
How many people do you think could be con-
Siegated In Washington, on the occasion Of d
match race Of four miles and repeat. between two
Of the best nags to be chosen in England and the
United states, Fifty thousand strangers Of the
right grit. would swarm in upon us and leave
twice Is many dollars behind them. Does any,
body wish better paving institution than thai ,
Everybody knows that great national matches
are now absolutely unavoidable The war has
begun. L p 10 this time il has been nothing but
American defeats That very fact will only give
renewed vigO: and intensity Of determination to
the American forces. The result will be the es-
Enlistment of 4 permanent American stable in
England, and a permanent British stable in the
United States. Ia this chiyalric and noble con-
tention the population of both countries will in
fenSely sympdthiZe and We shall have snch rae
ing excitements the world has never vet be-
held. We shall have a series of return matches
and q succession Of victories and defeats until
legitimate horse racing shall become as ID ought
TO be, one Of the most glorious American insttu-
lions
Seeing all these things, as certainly do, must
YET candldly confess that see not even ray Of
hope that the - Great American Jockey Club,
will be located within fifty miles of Washington
city You may readily admit that innumerable
local. social, national, and even political consid-
Grafton indicate this the spot where these great
contests should come OF, bat they are all power
less in ats behalf
10 Is immateTial how much glorious sport we
would enjoy, or how much hard money we would
make by having the Club here; il IS little less
than faulty to hope for it. DIP.
TEE RIvER-The duck season comes on apace.
The gunners about the Long Bridge begin to do
quite hOurishing business, bringing up every
day fine specimens OF excellent river fowl Yes
trrday, Capt. Stewart had the good luck to take
in the course of the days Shooting several pairs
OF superior canvaS5acks, together with i large
number OF DluSwiBg.
Arrived at Riley's wharf schooner Joanna.
Hand, PhiladelPnia, us tons coal for w arder & |
Stewart.
At AIcxandf!d, the snip zephyr, Capt. King, is |
nearly ready Tor clearance. She will be hauled |
out into the stream on Monday next and will be
lowed down the river by the steamtug Guy She
goes to New Orleans
The boats running between washington and
Alexandria are very much annoyed BY bands of
IowdieS who pass daily between the two cities
Early this week party of five nice young men
weat from our city TO Alexandria on the Page
and took turn through the Alexandria market
where they purchased large piece Of raw beef,
which they cut into slices and came on board
gested TO them that the lunch would be much
more pzlstable il they were TO cook IL a little;
whereupon he was taken up very sharply by the
party, who advised him to eat his meat as he
liked il and not interfere with their mode OF feed
ing The engineer, observing demonst rations OF
hostile character about them, came down -
IL is supposed they their meat raw thus after
the fashion OF prize fighters, to 80 improve their
muscle"
The operations on the Washington and Alex
and ia Railroad going on swiftly under the
auspices OF Col French. We Learn to-day that