The San Francisco call., 1895-12-22
Murphy out a head on the wire, With
Conde IN third place.
LASSIES AT THE TRACK.

celved In the Betting Ring.
"say, here comes the Salvation Army
No joshing now, you fellows"
"Oh, golly. but may be they're comlnf
to play the races. Wait till tell :
'.Shut up, or you'd wish you'd no
spoken. See?'
1t was the small boys congregatee
around the entrance to the Ingleside tracf
yesterday afternoon, who spoke when they
beheld three demure Salvation Army
lassies, in. all the panop]y OF war, walk
through the turnstile, and disappear IN
the direction of the track, for all the world
like the rest of the men, women and chlI'
dren who had come to ''play the races.
The men at the track were tritle more
surprised than the boys at the gates to see
the AmaZons of the army extending their
field of operations to the betting ring. A
woman in the betting-ring-why. before
the appearance of those Amazons the
have shuddered with horror at the thing.
But the Salvation Army lasses took every
one by storm. They simply walked into
the ring, as if to the manner born, and no
man was bold enough or churllsh enough
to resent their presence.
I'VE have had permission to beg here for
three days. Will you give something for
our women and children's shelter?" This
request was first made before the after
moons racing began and the men gathered
round in groups and stared at the intrud-
ers in undisguised surprise. 1t was not an
insolent stare, but more the look of stolld
curiosity with which people glare through
the bars of the cage at new variety OF
animal when the Park Commissioners an
nounce that they have just imported with at
great expense and difficulty.
Tho 10 csioS did nof hood tho or how.
ever. They were 'out for the stuff, to
quote the elegant pariance of the ring,
and any momentarv embarrassment they
might have felt was sunk in the desire to
bring home good account book.
Fair young Sister Rebekah had not much
'faith." She had been out on the race
track at Vallejo once selling War Crys,
for the spiritual comforts of that publica-
ton. II shall try" she said, 'but my
faith is weak to-day" Sister Carson was
tower of strength. eff / had all the
money my husband spent on his horses
before 1 became converted l could build
an orphanage, and endow it too. 1 am
going to try to get some Of that money
back for the home. Ii we can only get
them to play us for mascot"
But the men did not seem to be in want
of mascot. Most of the bookmakers
gave. ED; Wallace-"May his name be
blessed,' said Sister Rebekah-began with
S., and others gave varying amounts.
Here's ST. said he of Cook d Co. II
wish it vas $500, for l believe you are do
ing a good work" Outside the book
makers money came in slowly. Most OF
the men turned a deaf ear to appeals; a
few came quietly, after they had won, and
deposited sums, from 10 cents upward, in
the hands of the lassies. Here and there a
faint attempt at tiippancy cropped up, but
it was easily quelled.
"Have you any tips?" asked an old gen.
tleman facetiously of Rebekah. Eyes, sir.
Some are as big as S.. What will you
riously. showing him her book. The old
fellow, finding his joke rebound on his
own head, faded away. Another man Of
fered one of the Iassies dollar and a
straight tip-"You play that on Sir Play
and you'll win" mo, sir; that would be
gam bling" she answered. .'Well, take
this" he said, and gave her ticket en-
first. But TIE lassie believed the devil was
tempting her and tore it up. Ten minutes
later, when Sir Plays crimson and white
colors came flashing past first to the win
ming post, the lassie thanked the Lord that
she had been spared the temptation of
having the ticket in her possession.
AS the afternoon wore sway the men
truders, and whereas they had been with
out friends when they entered, by night
fall they had whole host of champions.
There were two jockeys and five stable
boys who were their sworn allies and who
kept whispering in hoarse tones, "Say,
strike that man for collection; he has
won on the last race" And when the tip
proved successful the jockeys and the
stable boys beamed with delight.
There were several well-dressed men who
made point of collaring their friends
when they struck it rich and bringing
them to lay mite of their spoils on the
shrine of destitute women and children,
and dozen or more seedy individuals
came up every hour or so with the remark,
"Gettiag on all right?' There were two
men who crept up occasionally like con-
spirators to give tips on the winners-not
on the horses, but on the men who had
just been raking in the shekels.
In spite of all this kindness, however,
the proceeds of the days begging only
came to about $55, and when the lassies
thought of all the destitute women and
children they said, somewhat regretfully,
what is THIS among so many?'
u - Il