The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-11-09
miscellaneous.
RACE TO DEATH.

iN'Se ~ VIM IT.
There is never any lack of beauty in
Dublin bathrooms, and that year
cannot help thinking that there was
more than the usual proportion of at
traction. But of all the girls who
compelled devotion there was nobody
quite SO charming as Mary Mccartney.
When she was presented at the castle,
the lord lieutenant administered his
official kiss with peculiar JUNCTION and
was afterward heard to say that if his
duties were always as pleasant he
could bear a very frequent repetition
of them. The vice regal opinion was
very cordially re-echoed by every
body, and wherever Mary went her
progress was Il scene of triumph.
The Two Hundredth was devoted to
her to man. One dance in an even
ing was thing to be proud of, and if
she deigned to give any fortunate man
two he was at once placed upon pin
nacle of social superiority.
Finch and Seymour were her most
devoted admirers and had it all their
own way in her preference. l wont
say affections, for l believe she could
only have looked upon them as two
editions of the same man, and they
were so loyal to each other that they
appeared TO have the one special ten
dresse in common with their other
properties.
The Two Hundredth was about to
have its great function of the year
it's regimental steeplechases. All the
best of the animals that had gone
through the hunting campaign were
fo, hn
the mess table talk, which for months
the casualties of the chase, turned to
handicapping, weights and racing
conditions.
Finch and Seymour now, as on other
occasions, took a foremost place.
Each of them owned horses rather
alb We the average in quality, and
each had one entered for the regimen
tai cup. AS l said before, both of
them were good performers in the pig
skin, and it was more than probable
that if they started Captain Seymour's
Mousetrap (lid l tell you that Sey-
mour had just got his troop while
Finch was senior subalternD and Mr..
Finch's Sorcerer would start as equal
favorites. The two friends did all
their training and galloping together,
and | believe that, though each in
tended to ride his horse out and do
his best, they did not much care how
they would be placed at the finish, so
long as one was first and the other
second.
OF course we expected all our friends
to come to our race meeting and made
plentiful provision for their entertain
ment. Given the officers of cavalry
regiment bent on making holiday
add tents, luncheon, band and fine
spring day, and you form series of
attactions which will collect people
from far and near, especially in Ire
land. When the day of the meeting
came, it was all that could be wished.
There was u bright sun and a soft
wind, and there had been just a suffi-
cient sprinkling of rain overnight to
lay the dust and make the drive to
the course delightful, while the few
light clouds in the horizon were not
discouraging enough to prevent our
fair friends from putting on their
freshest and prettiest toilets. Coach
after coach ratified over Carlisle
bridge, each with a full load and each
with n bit of muslin on the box; brakes,
carriages and cars innumerable, the
jarveys doing honor to the occasion
by voIleys of chaff, and many adorn
ments on their light hearted selves
and their apparently equally gay and
light hearted, we'll bred nags. The race
race course was about eight miles from
the city in the Howth direction, and if
the day were to have no other pleasure
the drive down, with occasional
glimpses of the beautiful bay of Dub
lin, celebrated in song, was enough of
enjoyment for any one.
We arrived at the scene of action,
and the business of the day commenc-
ed. The subalterns' cup was the first
event, and, | must say, the boys did
credit to the old Two Hundredth.
The senior subalterns were lying by
for the regimental cup, and the juniors
had the race to themselves. 1t was
won by young Wordsworth, whose
round shoulders and unconquerably
ugly seat had caused much conf ct of
opinion between him and the Old rid
ing master, but who now showed that
if he were not destined to shine in the
menage he had at any rate indisput-
able nerve and enough seat and hands
to take him over difficult country.
He afterward became one of our best
men on a horse and won equestrian
honors in many ticklish places. Then
came an hours interval for lunch, but
of course those who were going to ride
had to put the muzzle on. just looked
into the tent before going to weigh and
saw Mary Mccartney, looking as sweet
as ever. Seymour and Finch were
both with her, and she was wishing
them good luck in their gallop. As
they left her safely in the colone,s
charge | heard her say: Nov, mind,
l expect you two to beat everybody
else, and | shall be particularly nice
to the one who wins. | may even
give him two dances at the castle ball
tomorrow night"
The Two Hundredth were pretty
businesslike in matters of sport, and
there was none of the fuss and delay
in the weighing room that too often
marks the doings of amateur jockeys.
Punctual to time, the starters filed out
of the paddock. | think there were
eight of us. Seymour's colors were
rose and black cap and Finch's blue
and red sash. Mousetrap and Sorcer-
er were a long way the best of the run
ners to look at. Mousetrap was big,
bony bay horse, with rather slack
neck, but the best of shoulders, ire
lnendous jumping power and great
turn of speed. He required a work
man to ride him, as his temper was
easily ruffied, but in Seymour hands
he generally went like lamb.
Sorcerer was one of those exception
al horses that can take turn at any
thing. He had gone through training
in the riding school, and on occasions
was the best of chargers. He was SO
good looking that when he had Il
military kit on there was no horse in
the regiment that looked more snowy
than he did, but the white hairs OH
his chestnut coat and the silvery locks
in his tail showed the blood of old
Warlock and he had large share of the
pace, cleverness and staying power
that marked his great ancestor. As
we rode down the course | could hear
the few bookies who were present in
the ring reckoning up the chances of
the field in stentorian cries of 20 to /,
bar two.n l was riding confidential
old hunter which was warranted to
| h1t I had