Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-07-16
FIRST DAY OF THE RACES.
How q Clerk Took bis Swest.
heart to Jerome Park. III
Going Back MinusITwo Weeks
Salary and His Girl.

\ i am D9CnelOF WIN SuAll MEANS
have never been at the races, but the CIR
with whom | am keeping company
she's the dearest girl on earth insisted
that should take her to the races some
days ago. My father was an eminent
brewer, and made large fortune in the
fell of '49 and the spring of 80 selling
beer. He had long route and died
universally respected; but unfortunate
for me, before be died he was busted of
all his cash. This left me on the world,
as it were, an orphan.
At present am engaged in the humble
capacity of dry goods salesman in a
Broadway store at twenty dollars week.
This is not too heavy load to bear for
a salary. My wash bill is two eighty
five a week; good deal goes for collars.
Julla-she's the dearest girl on earth
said to me Wednesday evening, Git was
my night out:) 'Billy, my dear, never
have been to the races but once, and that
was with Fitz. I'd like 10 go again, and
Saturday is the opening day, and ]. have
a new dress and bonnet. Do take me.
Fitz took me-"
Now, if there is one man on earth that
/ hate, it is that Fitz. He doesn't want
to marry julia no more than the man in
the moon, but be just stays around to
aggrsVate me, because he has some mon
ey and doesn't need to work for his living.
He wears better clothes than me, too, and
don't like him for that, because 8 girl
likes good clothes; SO was bound Julia
should go with me, to make Fiiz sick.
have reputation for horseback riding
among the clerks in the store, which, to
tell the truth, | do rot deserve; for l
never was on horseback but once in my
life. and that was when | turned out as a
live Indian in fantastical company last
Christmas. Fitz always rides on horse
back, he says, when going to the races
he's been at the Derby-alongside of the
equipage of his lady love.
l had saved up two weeks salary, and
l determined to spend it all, if necessary,
to outshine him.
Owing to the bother made by my Tight
fitting collars, and the trouble of screw
ing the studs in my shirt bosom, it was
twelve o'clock yesterday before l was
ready. hang out in garnet in third
class hotel in City Hall square, and my
girl lives in Brooklyn, with pretty stylish
people on Brooklyn heights.
l went to livery stable down town,
and putting on all the cheek l c1uld as
sumo, asked for saddle horse"
The man whom ! asked for steed
was standing over a horse box, with q
straw in his mouth, and l thought he
looked at me in an offensive manner. He
said:
'sWhat do you mean by saddle
horse Do you mean good
roadster, sound in wind, limb and fet-
lock 2"
Not knowing exactly what to say, l
said eyes" family.
He answered: "Just stick yourself
against that post and wen put you through
in a few minutes"
did not like this kind Of talk, but in
few INMATES the offensive man led out 8
great big brute who kicked his hind heels
all over the stable in vicious manner. 1
did not like the horse very much and l
said to the offensive man, 81 wait a
quiet horse, one that don't kick SO
much.
"Why, bless your heart he isn't a
kicker at ALL" Here the horse reared
frightfully. ''He's now only amoosin
himself because he knows he's goin' to
have SIGH beautiful rider, that's all, l
give ye my word of honor" said the
stable man.
1 felt better as he said l was a good
rider, and after some difficulty with the
aid of chair l got on the brute's back.
As soon as | was on his back he made
frightful plunge and darted for the door
wildly. | strove to hold him in IS well
as | could, but it was no use and my bran
new silk hat was broken to pieces.
A little boy picked up my hat and de-
manded fifty cents before he gave it to
me. / did not want to dismount again,
and so l gave it to him, holdinz the hire
with one hand aud groping successfully
in my vest pocket fer fifty cents. Two
or three other bad boys had collected, and
they gave me three cheers as l rode out
of the stable. One boy cried out, 'tLOokee
here, Jim, at the Prince of Wales on
horseback. Amt he nice ?"
had engaged to meet Julia and her
m Their at the Fulton ferry with an open
barouche, to lake them to the races, and
l was late. There wasn't any bsrouches
in the stables, they had all been hired for
to-day, 80 at laat l thought l would try
the coach stand at the City Hall park,
where knew there were always some
turDOuts standing. -.. E.
There were only two, however, and
one had dirty white lining that knew
would never do for Julia. So tiled the
next one.
''Said |, Chow much will you charge
10 take me to the races st jerome Park
and bsck9"
Chow much l tske2 why, III take
twenty dollars; but ye don't want me 10
carry that wicked looking horse in the
barouche, do yt7"
l explained to him that / wanted TO
take two ladies in the bsrOuche, and that
l would ride by the side of it as an escort
on horseback. / also told him that
thought twenty dollars was too much.
He finally agreed to take fifteen dollars if
l would keep away as far as / could from
the bsrouche, as he f'didn't want the
panels kicked in nohOW."
The other driver was mad because |
did not take his turnout, and he halooed
out as we drove down TO the ferry:
'S-a-y, Hank, look out for that Lex
ington stallion. | used to know him
when he was in Third avenue car, and
was a VERY ard case. Tie his two fore
legs up ard he's SAFE"
At the ferry l met Julia and her moth
er. 1t wss after o'clock, and Mrs V.
looked cross. She had b en- waiting in
the ferryhouse an hour by her watch, and
she didn't like my horse; neither did l.
''If it was Mr.. Fiz who was to escort
us, know he would not have kept Us
waiting 10 the ferryhouse," said the old
lady spitefully. She never liked me. Ju-
las mother did not expect any better,
although twenty-three of my forty dollars
were already gone, eight for the road
siers and fifteen for the barouche "a j
Julia was in better humOr than her