Louisiana capitolian., 1880-01-10

Above the chant VI heavenly choir
These words may sound with gracious fro:
well done; good, faithful servant, como nj
| higher!"
BETTING EXPERIENCE.
Illad often been asked by my friend
Bernard Snipe to take an interest IL
horse -racing-or, rather, in betting
For months / had resisted tempting
offers of assistance and advice which
were to make my fortune. The fact
is, l knew nothing whatever about
horse racing, and l had no money ta
spare to pay for practical experience
Of the tart Of betting. Bernard
Snipe had, on the other hand, made q
study of "book making" He was the
deputy stationmaster at al old
borough town on one ofthe chief lines
in the Kingdom. He betted with
passengers and he betted with railway
clerks, and for a while he "skinned''
them pretty much as he pleased.
1t was in September, 1871, that he
prevailed upon me to 20 to Doncastel
to see the great St. Leger race. ]
consented to visit the famous course
more for the sake Of the "sight" than
for the betting. However, in order to
enjoy y little Of everything, l put E3
los in my pocket and on the We'd
ncsday when the Leger was run for,
1 was conveyed in special train to
Doncaster. My railway fare and
dinner absorbed 10 shillings Of my
cash, and with the remaining f3 /
proceeded to the course. Iremember
seeing the first race won by Count
Lagrange's Cosmopolite. saw large
sums of money change hands, and l
ut last thought 1 might win q $40
note on the Lcgcr. looked round for
Bernard Snipe, but he had left me.
could not find him, l returned to the
quarters occupied by the betting
fraternity and l could hear the praises
of Kettledrum sounded above all the
rest of the horses. Kettlelrum was
the favoritc in the betting and
consequently I made him favorite by
investing all my G3 in his cause. At
length tic horses came out for their
preliminary ''canter. Kettledrum was
pointed out to me, and | almost
worshiped the animal. ''rhey'rc offv
was the first cry l heard, and after
considerable excitement there were
immense cries Of "Ca1ler Gu wins!
Caller On wins" and to my utter
astonishment Caller Gu did win. The
thought suddenly flashed upon me
that I was eight miles away from
home; had lost the only friend knew,
and not Il farthing in my pocket
towards paying my railway fare.
l was in q strange place; was
almost in despair. l wandered about
the refreshment booths to ascertain If
any one knew was there. l was not
successful. came to the conclusion
that l had made q fool Of myself by
visiting Doncaster, and a still greater
fool Of myself by stalking f3 on the
lottery of horse race, and leaving
myself without the means Of getting
home.
Suddenly l was tapped on the
shoulder. ! turned round, and to my
delight l beheld Bernard Snipe.
"Well, how have you gone on I" he
asked.
"Lost every farthing Of fmy money"
was my disconsolate reply.
"What did you back 7" he inquired.
"Kcttlcdrum."
"Kettledrum! What a fool you've
been. Why didn't you ask me about
itl He wasn't in the race. The rain
had made the course too heavy for
him. ran on critical Bernard.
"ft's all very we'll to tell me these
things, now the mischief is done," l
"l know have made n
fool of myself by coming here at all.
Lend me half a sovereign, and III
make the first loss the last, and 90
home by the next train"
"Not me, old boy" lie replied; and
then, in an encouraging tone, he said:
"Look here, they are betting 8 to J
againstC Cosmopolite for the Corporation
Plate. lam going to put two SOW
creigns upon it. If You will put
sovereign ON it I'll lend you the
"No, no. Once bitten twice shy,"
answered. "Cosmopolite won tic
first race, and they'll never let the
same horse win two races in one day."
"It's right, I tell you. l have a
friend in Count Lagrange's stable,
and he has given nc the tip" put In
Bernard.
"Well, III never pay you back if l
lose," l informed him.
"I'll trust you for that" he answer
ed as he ran off toward a betting man
who was under huge umbrella bawl-
ing to a crowd of people in front Of
him.
Presently he returned and handed
me small ticket, at the same time
informing me that If the horse won l
must present the ticket to the man
with the umbrella, and he would hand
me nine sovereigns.
The bell rung to clear the course.
Again there was the preliminary can
ter. Once more a score of voices from
behind slassesc'ied out, "They'rc off,