The Russellville Democrat., 1879-10-30
THE WALK.
Night Scenes fa Madison -qsSxe Gar der
 During the Recent Match

Night Scenes in Madison s.gzzye Garden
 During the Recent Match
 7. r Expre2
 There is something about these night exhibitions Of skill and endurance pe- c1liarIy attractive to the average mind. and q weird pietnresquenesz in the scene as the hiekeTing lights and shad- 0EE fall on the restless mass of human ity here c0ngYeszted. that is at once Ir- teresting and aIl-afsOFfing. Thousznds who enter the large building @only tO look on for 2 nainuteS find themselves, after hours Of patient observation Of the pedestrians and the changing scenes, only ready fO depart because tired n2- tufe demands a period Of rest. IL has been asserted that the excitement Is only among class whose mental faculties are not equally balanced, but the presence of eminent professional men, such as doc tors, lawyers, elergymen and others, seems to give the lie fo this statement. HOweyer, be the statement true CT false, the garden is nightly crowded. To those who are interested in the betting the bo0kmaker's stand is the center of at- traction. Here the sporting fraternity conZregate in large numbers, and the knowing ones" find an opportunity tO back their fayorite against the long odds given by the booksellers. To the un- ftiated the long odds given On men who are well up in the walk and going well is a mystery, and they only find how well founded was the oDini0n of the willy bookseller after they have staked their money and losf. Here, gentlemen, is where you can get long odds on any man you want to bet on," is the cry of the boOk-naker, to attract attention, and, in fact, these long odds are very enfieiDg to the @softies' whose stock of points" on the struggling contestants has been irn- parted with strict injunction to secrecy. The band plays, the booksellers shout and make beta, and the crowds come and go, wandering from one point of inter ct to another.
 About the bar and lunch counters there is always to be found a class Of men, who, over a brimrning glass of foaming lager, discuss the merits of the walkers and indulge in an occasional practical joke. Campan, or "Old Sport, as he is famiiiarly called, is to be seen daily in the garden. He lounges about the bar, accepting the invitation of all who, out of pity or cOmmiseratiOn, ask him to take little nip" The invita- ton is invariably accepted. Last night party of friends, while drinking, saw him, and he was called up. Alter a few moments the gentlemen made bet be tween themselves, but loud enough for him 10 hear it, that he could not make fifteen trips up and down in front of the bar in ten minutes. The wager was for s400, and if he won he was 10 get $50 of 1t. There were a good many present at the time abOut the bar. The space was marked off, and "Old sport" started, amid cries of "Go it old hoss," 1'Now is your chance" Hit her up, old Sport, ," and Shake her up, old Bridgeport bum" The exhibition was short but amusing, Sport failed to cover the distance in the time allotted, but he received a s2 note for his attempt to do go, and then he invited the crowd 10 drink with him, but the invitation was refused.
 The billiard tables are in great de- mand and in continual use The eleva- tion on which they stand affords the players a fine view of the track and the contestants, and SO they find little di- version in quiet game with a friend, content to occasionally look off at the bulletin boards, on which the hour record is posted The proprietor of these tables is reaping as great fortune out of his shrewd investment as he could pos sibly hope for in the short period of six days. Other attractions are numerous and varied, and the audience divide their stock of admiration between the walk CTS and the changing scenes abounding on every side.