Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-24
The Great jockey.


Fred Archer was one OF those men so rare to find
who could do what the horse-lovng Yorkshire folks
call "carTy corn" Success to pursue the smile
did not make him kick over the traces. He was
not spoilt by success. Gentlemanly and courteous
and quiet in his attire he fulfilled none OF the con.
ditions supposed to be requisite in the racing man
as tae psGF sna ne %s
was tall and slender, painfully pnched In the waist
and slightly bent in the back. His complexion
was pale, his hair dark and arranged with neat
ness, and his eyes always looked you straight I'm
the face His mouth was somewhat peculiar I'm
shape, and his upper teeth rather prominent
feature early seized upon by car1catuy1sts when
they wished to delineate the "great jockey The
deceased horseman was man OF consummate
skill, fertility OF resource and wonderful nerve.
Danger or possible danger never troubled him. He
saw only the winning post. His finest achieve
ments were effected under circumstances OF the
Of his tricky fashion OF getting through rucS OF
horses when he was Shut in apparently I'm hopeless
fashion He was particularly fond OF getting round
living equal, especially at Tattenham Corner and
over the awkard Manchester course. He occa-
but was too clever to trespass too tar over the line
In the end, however, he always had his own way
and secured the position he coveted. In hugging
the rails on the inside turn he has over and over
again held his life In his hands
In his early days Of riding he was SO slightly
three stone OF dead weight, but as age crept upon
him his daily study was to keep below bis normal
bodily weight OF ten stone. To effect this he had
to go through shocking prtvattons In the way OF
sweating, starving and physicking. For the first
named purpose he had special Turkish baths built
at his private residence, while the CHIEF piece of
furniture IN ms m0rary was pair OF very sensi-
q bunch OF grapes or single piece OF dry toast
and glass OF champagne. OF this treacherous
none but the very best brands He declared that
1t kept him alive without In any way interfering
with his weight. 1t must not, however be inferred
W Snat ms taDe wss On the contrary
was grand host. His self-denial was marvellous
for when he must have been simply rayenOus with
hunger, ne would preside at his table surrounded
MUNICH dry biscuit or his hard burnt toast when
the pangs OF hunger got almost past the power Of
journ to his library test his weight on his irusfy
scales shake his head at the last obstinate pound
which refused 70 "come on and then retire TO bea
kitchen. Nature, however, rebeiled against this
treatment and the punishment came suddenly
and swiftly: The last straw that broke the cameIs
pound to ride st. Nirin in the Csm6ridSeshiTea He
felt IL was his last chance to win that event. and
he had made up his mind 70 do II at whatever cog.
wreck, nerveiess and dispirited, and utterly
without stamina In this condition he went 70
Brighton and Lewes, and suffered exposure on the
pair Of hunting breecheA The inevitable chill fol-
lowed and the fever demon seized upon frame ~
prepared TO Withstand its nvage9
fngs were enormous; while the pFesents Of his
pleased patrons were princely. He was always .
careful, saving man, with few yiceA
Lucy ror, remarked NrA 6naggA 'None q her
sNamed Il Iacifsz. did shes- replied snaegs.
svsy sppropriste I'm sare she expects the CHI
Mn: enagg. went up seatn 70 anAlyse lk-Rteis.
III