The evening world., 1888-11-30
Her Impressions Of the Affair
and Its Vulgarities.
Ante Daylight Exhibitions in the Boxe,
and Seats
Mingled odors and unmlxed Disoomforts
Abounded.

concerts. the theatre Tor large charity bazaars,
they have heard it's echoes awakened by the
various notes Of canine woe and warning and
protest during bench shows. they have taken
the children there TO the circus. and only q
little while ago the flower of New York society
womanhood-arl its daintiest danes and its
fairest maidens-thronged the place during
the period of the horse show.
No more striking contrasts could be imag-
lined than were presented by the same place
during that fashionable equine exhibition
and those afforded last night at the interna-
tionai walking match-the six days go.as-
y~ou-plense which opened last Sunday.
A fine drizzling rain blurred the shining of
the lights in Madison Square, soppy foot
falls echoed along the quiet street, and only
when we were close TO the Garden could we
perceive any sign Of the surging life within
ITS walls.
At the entrance, two women alone. clad in
conspicuous raiment, were standing ut the
curbstone dickering in loud tones with the
driver of a hanson.
A splitting match had evidently taken place
in the lobby. where the floor plainly indi-
Gated that there had been many CONTESTANTS.
IL uIbt With WhiCu REOObou Ou ObtElI
and lungs. as the swinging portals opened
before us, was distinctly not laden with
airs from heaven" Fumes of stale beer, q
SAVIOR of wet umbrellas and q nauseating odor
of bad tobacco in combination, escaped past
US into the chilly darkness Of Thanksgiving
night.
and electricity. The roof was gay with flags
and bunting, but there all attempt ut decora-
ton ceased. Away at the further end-the
place whore the horses and the elephants
usually appear and the spot TO which our
eyes turned from force of habit ut once.
Stood q semicircle Of little wooden shanties
with peaked roofs of red and white striped
canvas. In walking match p~arlance they are
known as "huts." They look like little
carried out by the varions floral designs in
immortelles which are hung plentifully about
the doorways.
These little shanties-beg pardon, huts-
are the abode of the contestants.
An atmosphere Of witchhazel md hot
alcohol was porceptible as we drew near 10
the settlement. Most of the walkers were
resting or being cared for by their trainers,
and their doors were closed. One, however,
which probably Furnished a fair sample Of
the arrangements In all the rest.
Anarrow, hard hospital cot stood in one
corner, with O phantom pillow and q coarse
blanket, which wouldn't be so thick or SO
hChNy - ~ Wuo uAO IA bthutt kub blONb
occupied another corner. 1t stood on q
wooden chair, and there was some broth
stewing over the flame. The walls. Of rough
boards, we're hung Enthusiastically with stock
shirts and blazers. all, equally with the bed
covering, to be commended to the offices of
some cleansing establishment.
An exclamation at the condensed discom-
fort of these quarters elected from q trainer
this statement:
1--WE don't want to make them comforta-
BILE. II they were 30 they'd spend the week
in their huts and there'd be no walking done.
As II is, we have to urge, coax and drive them
back 70 the track. OF course. they're fed
splendidly-that's necessary to keep them
mp. Why, II costs about 5000 o week to pro-
vision one of these men and his trainers"
Several of these latter important function
aries slept sitting on chairs outside the tents.
In front of one door sat q woman, bare
headed, wrapped in q shawl. with her feet
resting on q chair and q expression OF Spar
tan endurance abiding on her countenance.
There was actually more staying power"
age of any one of the tagged looking men,
toiling painfully around tine sawdust track,
laid Just inside the tiers Of boxes.
It was past the stroke of midnight. Casual
and the phases of life peculiar to the earliest
hours OF the new day at a walking-match
were developing on all sides.
The busiest quarter was inside the ring.
Hundreds Of men swarmed there. They
hung over the picket fence inclosing IL and
stood In rows gazing at the track. Groups
hung around the lunch stalls, and crowds
encircled the stands where ring tossing"
was the attraction. This amusement
S 1sSnsiSt e. . in atrs pitching IN oa wooden atnS Spr, tain
Of walking sticks, or q board table b~ristling
with penknives opened and jabbed into il,
Whoever encircles one of these prizes with q
deity thrown ring might claim the same.
T-,D. 49, MANA kn0afnR ann-o
and the men crowded about and encouraged
their efforts.
The forlorn walkers thread their weary
round with about the same ~alacrity exhibited
mill churn. Now and then their attendants
ran alongside. offering them refreshment in
the shape of milk punch. beaten eggs OF
something else which could be imbibed as
they trotted along. One man derived his
nourishment from a little. tin teapot which
he tilted up while he drank from the spout.
From time to time the men who had laid
themselves down to sleep in the boxes OF
along the reserved seats would gather them.
selves up. shout out some encouragement &c
into slumber again.
The women did not grow drowsy, and when
accompanied by men became more or less
boikterous as the night wore on.
One group cheered and shouted in hoarse
voices and were highly diverted by the eff
forts Of one of their party TO balance beel
glasses on the head Of his ane Crashes and
splashes ensued, and finally one Of the
women proclaimed that they were al
drunk, "a statement which the most unso
phisticated observer could not have gninsaid.
Another group, whose condition spoke fol
itself with equal plninness, hung over tn,
rail at the edge Of the track saluting Iii,
pedestrians as they passed. A girl. with
face that might have been very fair ant
sweet, lolled over the fence and cried IL
berry tonesi
q Go IL, Petey. there's the boy ~ and fun.
q horseshoe Of immortelles. When the in
tended recipient failed 70 catch il. abe YELLED
again
Never mind, get Il next trip"
II women who think It amusing to season
their speech with q SAVIOR Of slang phrase
could spend Q night at q walking match ans
listen TO these expressions tossed from tn
lips OF the demi-mondaines who gather ther,
thew would never wish 10 uttAr them AGAIN