Middletown transcript., 1876-01-29
Communicated 4

Mr. Editor: In communication in
your issue of last week reference was
made to ''red- faced old Englishman +"
Assuming that you will allow the priv
ilege Of reply, l would respectfully
state TO the gentleman with the big
pocket book, the reason why the red
faced, bare headed, old Englishman,
objected to stalking his money on a bet
with him Thirty years ago, being on
popular race course in my own neigh
borhood, and being we'll acquainted with
the horses, the owners. and the speed
of the horses, | was induced to take
the odds against the fastest horse. but
to my dismay and the surprise of most
Of the spectators the favorite lost by a
neck 1t was termed selling race !"
/ soon found that the money! lost
on the horse race was wanted by all to
whom I was indebted then went to
an old friend. who had frequently as
sisted me in money matters, but on
telling him how l lost my money, be
at once informed me that only fools and
roughs bet on horse racing I babe
him "good morning" with an idea that
| was one of the fools be alleded to I
next. went to the man who had won my
money, thinking, perhaps, could bor-
row it of him for short time. This
worthy invited me to stop and dine with
him, and said he would take me in the
afternoon to place where l could get
enlightened in the horse-racing busi-
ness, and have an opportunity to win
back my money on another race day.
Pleased with the idea, off we went
through the town to a shabby looking
inn, half way down back street We
passed in by side door Then my
friend gave peculiar rap at another
door and pass word, and was admitted,
but the door was closed against me.
Then l knew it was a secret society
| gave the peculiar rap, but was
without the pass word. | was then
requested to give my name, which |
did. My friend, as I afterward learned,
presented his betting books. showing
bis entry where had paid the bets |
lost. was then admitted into the
Jockey Club Ring There were dozen
red faced, happy looking Englishmen
there, with all their hair upon their
heads; plenty Of wine and spirits of
different sorts on the table All had
their betting books before them. the
chairman entering all bets in ledger.
As I was not concerned in the business
going on, I thought I would look over
the establishment. In the next room |
found forty, or more, palefaced, bare
headed men who had been independent
gentlemen, but had lost all they possess
ed by horse racing. One gentleman I
personally knew, who had owned
splendid estate, with as fine mansion
as can be built, situated in park. with
brick wall around it ten miles in
length and six feet high. together with
an income Of 100000 a year. All this
ne had LOST by horse racing, 10 fifteen
years. Over the door of this room were
inscribed, in large letters. the words
Remember the Unlucky" I was too
poor to give, although I felt that as I
had some hair left on my head yet. my
case was better than theirs, as l knew
how to earn my living. I passed out
Of this room into another called the
"debtors's room" Some hundred or
more men we're in this room, waiting to
60 through the "insolvents' court" in
the next compartment I found the
debtors wives and children and credi-
tors and lawyers consulting what was
best to be done SO that the mothers and
children might not be left quite desti-
tnte. | was neTt shown, by . turnkey,