Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-06-28
LONDON LETTER.

NoAlpapuhANhNN VI ~ ANNrNAF4
LONDON, June II, lS79.-lt will be
no news to a great number of your
readers who have been abroad, and to
a great many who have not, to read
that the Cup day at Ascot has long
IA. beenfamous as the ladies carnival. On
that particular occasion the lawns Of
the famous heath are expected to be
radiant with cunningly designed cos
tunes specially contrived and pre-
pared for the occasion. Royal y
Ascot on Thursday Of its annual
tournament is required to positively
coruscate with female beauty Of face
and attire, and a " cup" anniversary
minus such a scene would be looked
upon by the BritOn as a dismal fraud
aud delusion, indeed. The ladies who
conceive it their duty to figure at such
gatherings naturally carefully prepare
beforehand for the event. Their
modistes are expected to excel them
selves in the production Of unique and
tasteful costumes. A keen Kind of
rivalry invariably ensues, and the lords
of creation are presumed to o~ficiate
as judges and bestOR the need of ad.
miration where it is most merited.
But how can the beauteous OneS
be expected to proudly assume
their bravest garb when they
have a decided conviction that such Il
course entails the almost certain and
utter ruin of that which has been so
painstakingly contrived? And how
can aught else be expected than that
on beholding all their pet schemes set
at naught they should evince some
amount Of ehagrin aud ~disappoint-
meDt, to say nothing worseY little
matter for establishment would there
be we're it to become known that this
morning scores of usually aiable and
pleasant dispositions were soured aud
turned aWry. For, in truth, the
morning of the celebrated Cup y
day opened 0minously enough. Black
clouds had formed an amalgamation
III the heavens. and every nov and
again their watery RaYors we're distFib-
uted with no niggardly hand. ia
London the outlook was as dismal and
sorrow. inspiring as the most ultra
hater Of his species could desire. As
Imeandered from the West Center to.
ward Waterloo station of the i. and
S. w. railway through deluges of
rain, | noticed ladies wrapped 10
waterproof ulsters aud cloaks looking
glum. and gentlemen as q rule doing
more than merely appear unpleasant.
Theu one Ras whirled across the
country and noticed bitches swollen
with turbid water. pasture lands
flooded, and everything seeming as
damp as dampneas itself. When that
road in front Of the grad stand
was reached, however. there was on
view a scene that might we'll daunt
the stOutest heart, The ~thoroughfarl
had been cburned by the wheels Of
numberless vehicles into a positive
sea of yellow mud. IN places it lay
of the thickness or several inches
everywhere it was present, PASSING
carriages threw it into che air; horse,
dashed the de6ling particles Of satara
ted, ~pulyerized macadam about Ia al
directions. IL was really pitiful to SCI
the ladies wadiHg through the terribl
slough. They gathered about then
their dainty skirts and gilgerly sOugh
10 avoid the deeper Depths" no
always successfully, as Spots tba
were comparatively fair to the ~
proved the most deceitful when ven
tured upon. No. " last, the entir
throng drove forward regardless of al
consequences. and a miserable kind O
pilgrimage they had. AS for the e9asS
itself, words would fail to ~adequatel
describe its awful condition.
mace acquaintance with II 9qTly, an
boldly avow that nothing bu
bog of The real ''ould Irish styla {
architecture could hope 10 az all couI
pare with It. After having navigate
It this afternoon | hummcd a +
Deum over, having apparently by
miracle escaped being cnkulphed alto
gether. | know perfectly well no
what John Bunyan's Slough Of D,
spond was like. Those who did ~
possess the sweet spirit of archange
--well, they made divers remark
which might have been quotation
from good story books, but which.
an unpreiudiced person, seemed 10 |
nlentifnliy interlarded with prOfanit
Luckily .he weather proved con
mratiyely fae after the days spoi
had actually commenced. There wei
showers now aud agaln-notably juI
as the competitors for the cup passe
the enclosures for the Gsst lime- bl
they were neither heavy sor OF lou
duration.