The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-11-28
BIT JOHN q. SAKE.


ts.at ts the Races.
BIT JOHN a. SAKE.
I've College Professors won't give thei
ard names
(Csll one Of them Jacob, the other one, James,
Tive College Professors, who neer in theil
..r lives
Had wandered before from the care of theiI
wives
One day in vacation, when lectures were thro',
And teachers and students had nothing to do,
Took II into their noodles to 90 TO the Races,
10 look at the nags, and examine their pa,
Aad find out the meaning Of ''bolting," and
~ 'baiting," sa s
And the CLEARLY prcposterous) practice oi
...f, waiting"
And "laying long odds" and the other queer
cApers
which cram the reports that appear in the
papers;
And whether "stake" is the same as post!
And how far cheat" may resemble roast?
And whether ''hedge" in the language of
o,ei sport,
n much like the plain agricultural sort?
A IL making book" is thing which re-
d. quires
A practical printer !--and who are the buy
ers!-
Such matters as these-very proper to know
And no thought of fbetting-induced them to go
To the Annual Races which then were in
Qforsc+acing In fact is a matter of course,
Apart from the pun } in neigoboring town,
AnAss, Is said, the Professors went down.
The day was the finest that ever was
known;
The atmosphere just Of that temperate tone
Which pleases the Spirit Of oman and) the
Times,
Hut impossible, quite, to describe in my rhymes.
The track had been put in capital plight
By smart dash Of rain on the previous night
And eli things "went of'-save some of the
As lively as crickets, or Kansas divorces!
Arrived st the ground, 1t is easy to guess
Or worthy Professors dismay and distress
~ ell the queer things which expanded their
-ss ~ sssyes ~
Qsss - mention their eArsD to wonderful
ks sizei h
How they stared at the men who were playing
A.f atpoker,
And scolded the chap with the 'sly little joker"
And the boy who had something uncommonly
: nice"
q Which be offered TO sell at very high price
q Avolume that didn't seem over-refned,
I And clearly was not Of the Sunday-Schooi kind
= An This, and much more-but your patience
.ssw will fail,
Unless desist and 60 on with my tale
Our worthy Professors no sooner had found
Ihsir (ten-shilling) seats in the circular ground
And looked at the horses-when, presently
-. came
a wish 10 know what was the Fdrorites name
!. And how stood the betting quite plainly re-
vealing
The old irepressibie horse-racey feeling
Which is born in the bone, and is apt to come
When Thoroughbred coursers are snorting a.
bout!
The Professors, in fact-I am grieved to re-
.sse port
J Al the very first match entered into the sport,
And bet (with each other) their money away /
Just Fifty apiece-on the Brown and the Bay
And shoated Is loud as they ever could below,
~Hurr.h for the flly, " and ''Goit old fellowi"
And Stick to your business!" and aRattle
your pcgsi"- yz
Lkesjolly old brace Of professional 'Legsi"
rhs r.ee being over, quOth Jacob, s1see
Ny wager Is forfeit; 70 thatI agree.
ne FUfyk yours, BY the technical rules
I observod I am told, BY these hOrseraeing
fools; -.
But thea. a. CAristiDn-rm sorry to say it.
ny conscience. you know, won't allow me to
p.yftf"
No matter'-quoth James-'T can hardly re-
ia fuse
Te accord with your sound theological views;
A tardy repentance is better than none;
Tmust teI you, however, twas your horse that
wonl
Bat Of course, you won't think Of demanding
ssI, the pelf
Fer havea conscience as well as yourselyr