The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-06-24
Lord Fiytan'S Dream.
A DREAM THAT BROUGHT GOOD LUCK
TO THE DREAMER.

Tie most predominant and appar-
emily, incougruous characteristics Of the
gambler are shrewdness and supersti-
ton, and the aristocrat who ventures
his money on the feetness of one out
of score of horses Tor more frequently
upon the honesty or dishonesty of the
trainers and riders of the same, it will
be seen by the story of Lord Vivian's
dream, often is swayed by such impul-
ses as he affects to ridicule in his hum
bier brother gambler who buys lottery
tickets upon the inspiration derived
from hackney coach numbers or backs
his fancy whose colors on. the "c'rect
card" coincide with those of the. first
bonnet he observed on the left after
turning down three corners on the day
of the race. ~ ..~
On the morning of the city and su
burban day of the recent Epson spriug
meeting, Lord Vivian, well known
English turfman, dreamed that he was
accosted in the weighing room on the
course by friend, Mr.. G. Sa,nuda, who
informed him that the race had been a
fine one, The TEACHER having only won
by neck. Lord Vivian at breakfast
looked through the betting list, but
saw no such name as Teacher in the
quotations, but on proceeding to the
Waterloo station the first person he
met was Mr.. Samuda - coincidence
number one-who on being told of the
dream, said that there was such
horse among the starters, Aldtich hav-
ing originally been named The Teach
er "a neat piece of nomenclature, his
sire being Lecturer), the named being
changed because it was already borne
by FLY of the same age. Coinci-
dence number two still further Impress
ed Lord Vivian, who determined to put
a couple of ponies-otherwise centu-
ry-upon the horse. The owner Lord
Rosebery, nobleman very we'll and
fav orably known in this country, en-
deayored to disspads him, telling him
that Aldrich had been badly beaten in
his trials; so Lord Vivian only backed
the horse for ESQ, the market price be-
ing 900 to 30. Several other gentle.
men backed the dream, notably Mr..
Somarvi)le,,c the owner of one of the ia
vorites. The race was run. There
was nasty accident, the fivorite {who
looked all over a WINERY fell and
broke his back, two other horses tuln-
bled over him, and several others, in
Guiding Mr.. Somarville's flly, were
disappointed" Aldrich won-coint
cidence number three. And by neck
coincidence number four.
All of which is recommended to the
reader of an arith;netical turn OF mind,
who, having eloriously distinguished
himself by demonstrating the chances
against one player at whist holding
thirteen trnmps, may sigh for fresh
problems to solve. We also advise
our, gilded youths who are making up
books on the Belmont and Withers to
look into this subject as possibly af-
fording clues for which they may seek
in vain through the mazes of private
trials and pnblic running. form, aud
breeding. Those old turfman who de-
sire to see visions of rank outsiders
numbers going mp, aud young sports
men who would fain dream dreams of
dark horses eantering past the post
lengths in front of all the fav0lites,
might adopt the meat of Fuseli and the
drink of De Quincy. The ears of the
walters at Delmonico's would then dr-
ring race weeks be saluted with orders
for raw pork chops for one-plenty of
blood and quarts of cabinet laudanum.
The nightmare would be the better
horse, and men HE them to bed cram
med with distressful pork; cabbage
and racing calenders, to sleep, per-
chance to dream while stenographers
surround the couches wherein they
lay 10 restless ecstacy to take down
their inspired rawlings of the race of
the morrow.
But let not the credulous taker of
odds too eagerly follow fancies thus
bred, begot, and engendered. In horse
racing indigestion will as frequently be
at fault as inexperiepce or even intelli-
gence. Bacon very properly observes
that people only mark dreams when
they hit, never when they miss; so that
the proportion of dreams falling true is
infinitely smaller than it would seem to
be. Lord Vivian's dream Dettted him
S., 600. and had he followed out his
first intentions would have brought him
$4,000. But we doubt if ever his lord
ship will again get the straight tip
through the ivory gate of dreams. The
Worlds arithmetic man has shown that
the chances against ones holding from
the calculation any recognition of the
fact that player can not hold thirteen
trumps save OH his own deal, which on
| " takes place once in four deals-are 80