Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-01-12
sport and Life ON French Rac,
Course.

sport anu Lille ON n French RRca
Course.
Correspondence Land and Water
1t was quite common thing n few
years ago--and, indeed, it freau emily
happens at the present day-for G ertain
writer's in the British press to persis stently
ridicule horse racing in France. an d
everything connected with it; and, to
pretend that while Englishmen were
almost born connoisseurs in horseAesh.
frenchmen were invariably ignoI ant of
the subject. In order to strength en- this
theory, these gentlemen would in form ,ls
that although the race for the Gran d
Prix de Paris was annually grac ed by ~
numerous attendance, the jovislity that.
usually reigned on an Engl lish race
course was never seen at Lon gchemps;
that Frenchmen went to thu, races be.
cause it was considered chic or fashion.
able, and that Frenchwomen went there
to show off their toilettes aod the color
of their hair; that the lovers of real
sport, who in our country would as soon
think of going without their dinner AS of
absenting themselves from the Derby,
we're rarely or never met on the French
turf; and, finally, that the excitement
which prevails all over England for
weeks before the Derby day is never
experienced in France previous 10 the
race for the Grand Prix or apy other
ace. f aaUf NN
The kind Of amusement that is found
on an English race course is, however,
very different from that which French
one offers. On the former the chief
attractions generally consist in placing
small sums Of money on horses about
which you have received tips" in eat.
ing, drinking and smoking; flipping
pieces Of broken handles at wooden dolls
with short clay pipes stuck in their
mouths, which you call " Aunt Sallies"
and at cocoanuts and teys balanced on
the top Of ash sticks, your knock him
DOWNS, being weighed. trying ones
strength, endeavaring at considerable
cost to find out the "thimble tricL:" and
in taking part in various other amuse.
ments which it is hardly necessary 10
enumerate here. On French race
course it is very different. There are no
minstrels, or knock him downs" or
Aunt Sallies," or thimhle riggers;"
scarcely any eating and yery little
drinking. There is a little ornamental
end where refreshments Of different
kinds are sold, and the people who drive
there take perhaps, a pate and a bottle
or two Of champagne with them. The
plebeians OF the assembly amuse them
selves by investing their spare francs In
paris mutuels, in staring impertinently
at the demi mondaines and in gazing in
awe and wonder on the Representatives
OF the Upper Ten assembled in the
enciente du pesage. The richer people
the male portion, | mean-bet and
saunter about the weighing enclosure,
bowling to and chatting with the ladies
they know, and staring those with whom
they do not happen to be acquainted out
of countenance. Occasionally, too, they
cross the course and saunter among the
labyrinth Of vehicles Of the ladies OF the
demi monde that are drawn up on the
opposite side,
A curious feature OF the Longchamps
race. course is the relative positions Of
the dame CONNIE il faut and celle qui ne
Test pas. The privilege Of being ad-
mitted to the Jockey Club Tribune, in
the enciente du pesage, is only accorded
to the woman who has certain standing
in Partisan society. Tickets can only
be obtained from member Of the
Jockey Club, aud the rules on this point
are so severe that he dare not give one
toa lady whose character is considered
i in the eyes Of society, to be in the least