The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-12

blood horses-in one part a. hard as cobbie stones.
in another like . sandy desert. Kingstonians did
not content themselves with the excitement OF rae
ing days only. Az the owners OF horses exercised
their stock between the hours of I'VE and SIX O'Clock
IN the morning, the popuace took advantage Of
the opportunity for IN airing also. Long before
the morning stars had been eciipsed by sunlight
hundreds Of whites, blacks and browns were in
attendance The elite came in chaises while the
blacks walked 'Dy -" as the Hibernian wit has
IL; but between them large assemblage was
always insured. On such occasions the ebony
tinted damses sported their morning costumes;
hats whose circumference might serve as the base
OF hut, linen Wrappers and ieet clad In bare
skin, all ornaments and decorations being tabooed
before breakfast. Extensive semicircles OF
"ivOries" and rolling eyes met your gaze on all
sides. 'Batty Buckra" handsome white mani
enjoyed innumerable matutinal greetings such as
"Ah, oh, Massa BucKrs, 'Ow Sc find heself, 81 good
a marnin, eh, en- ?" .Buckra no tax cornee max
IN 'ansoOm, chr" The latter usually came from the
vendors OF hot decoctiOn under the name Of
coffee, but such coffee as no American hotel keeper
would dare produce. bad as the traveller victim
sometimes finds it. An hour and hair Of prom.
enading. drinking the hotwash, sucking cocoanuts
and early courting during which time the equine
exercises had been brought to an end, and the
crowd would dispense for breakfast.
But
THE REAL FUN
came with the racing days proper Every carnage
capable OF bearing . hundred pounds and every
nag mule or donkey was pressed into service
Then what day for the 'busses Inclusive appel
lation. These are the public vehicles. They con-
sist OF four wheels beneath body slightly larger
than the hucksters' barr0ws OF New York; four
pieces OF suck three Ieet high support a square
frame from the four corners, the frame being COW
cred with American leather cloth to keep on the
sun, and rolls Of the same material dangling from
either side. There is one seat for two passengers
in the rear part OF the wagon and one in front
Tor the black driver. The width OF the affair
between the wheels is three feet six inches, so
that the passenger has always to be ready for a
leap, white necks are never considered as part
OF the bargain between the boys and their employ
ers. Inasmuch as sidewalks are considered q su-
pernuous luxury by the Municipal Board OF Kings-
ton-wherever there Is an apology for one 1t stands
three or four feet above the level OF the road ne.
cessitatng leap II you want to leave or a scram.
bic your knees IL you wish to gain it in the GEN.
tire of o block-you may imagine the state Of secu-
rty for pedestrians under the circumstances. II
you are not upset it 70 not for want Of trying on
the part OF your "pubic driver, who will also lie
and swear at the unsOphisticated in mis- demand
tor doqbie fare. Thank Heaven Tor giving sagacity
broken here. But TO return to
THE RACES
or course the negnooring pens country resi-
pants, while the wealthy merchant families of the
town made an excellent show. row Of carriages
the eighth OF mile long was stretched in front or
the grand stand and ste wards stand, many OF them
retaining their occupants, who preferred remain
ladies' attlred Hastily IS the ha0itses OF Jerome
Park, filed the long rows OF seats, even the wife of
a portion o. the time to add zest and magnI1cence
To the occasion Stately decorum prevailed in this
circle On the stewafds stand tn. the creole and
and but Tor the presence OF the Judge OF the races
am afraid there would have been some "odds"
twill not exceed loco lor the three days." This,
however, should be taken cum 0r0n0 s0Ns.
black but kindly face, white hair and
@ Gas d
teen races were to be run during the three DAYS.
With but two exceptions, however, the test was
horses entered. AZ 1t not my intention to innlct
on your readers the whole list Of so odd horses,
they bore the sama high founding classical musical
and poetical titles pacnNar TO the minds OF horse
Thaia 'I Sy quiz Quicksilver; Mercury, Mars, Eupnros
yne Prima Donna, Warbler, Snlder, by Needle
gum and Others The great event Of the meeting
TIE RACE FOR THE QUEENS PURSE,
for floO, believe, and, as there was such ire
mendous excitement over 1t. shall briefly name
the horses and note the race. This contest was
run in accordance with the rules Of the Newmarket
Jockey Club-viz., heats OF three miles eacn, the
horse winning two consecutive heats being de-
cared the winner. Four horses came to the start
Lady Florence, years old, st. 0 lbs.
Mercury. years old, o SC:
Jonathan, years old, st.
Minerva, o years old, st. lbs.
Minerva came In first OF the end Of the first
three miles in en-. sos. Mercury second, Lady
short walk and q little grooming the three first
were again started, Minerva being held back dur
third mile in em., sos. The same mare won the
Kingston Cup also on the third day, being
race Of two miles for prize valued at 60 sover-
erning body" and such attitudes dress and ex-
preston nave never before seen or heard. ''Ani
zee broot he's hindr; aYan, Saw: lux on m ' lux
on IN! ne jump Ugh as cactus edge" These and
excited manner, the jargon being sometimes
rendered the more unlntelliglbe by the quantity
Of ginger beer, poisoned by the most filthy of rum,
Next to the slght-seers came the gamblers, the
card-sharpers and the ''sweat" table keepers-the
latter being game with five changes (chances)
in favor OF the banker and one in favor Of the
winner There are six numbers painted on q
dollar on number and the banker throws three
dice. II the money exceeds 81 and there
wScS vow baye naceI vopg monev "rn Una. ON
two 2's or two Hs-tho banker pays twice
the amount OF the stake This happens but seldom,
and in the end the player Is ''Cleaned Out.n sure
harvest awaits the banner here, for the negro will
gamble, he has to sell the last vestlge Of
raiment or even the fowls and pigs OF his friends
aforesaid so much for the races which, with the
aid OF the murder OF girl by her brother, occupied
the attention Of this people tor the first three days.
CHRISTMAS GAABOLs AND CANDLES
The whirl OF excitement on the race course had
scarcely subsidized when Christmas Eve arrived.
Brother POmpey unconscious OF the occasion and
wild excessive pleasure. aBuckra" may invade
the bazaars and heap up his carriage with toys
and articles OF Uertu, Pompey will stand on less
ceremony, buy his suit OF yellow and green, his
gaudy trappings for head or feet, and vaunt them
in the lace OF his white friend. The Scotch, Eng.
lish and Irish planters rush to town and swell the
multitude, until one becomes perfectly aston,shed
that with such poor facilities such vast con-
excessively hot, but not too hot for the merry
makers and purchasers. All day long the narrow,
uncomfortable streets were thrOnged-saDe pre-
dominating over the white. The clouds OF dust
offered no impeachment to the Jamaicans. Evening