The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-26
THE DAY IN PoUGHKEEPsIE.
Brisk Betting and Great Enthusiasm Amoni
Follower OF the Different Crews.

Brisk Betting and Great Enthusiasm Among
Followers OF the Different Crews.
P~oUGHKEEPsIE, June 25.-Earlier than the
rising of the sun were the first arrivals on the
day of the great race. They came in on the
trains from up the State that reach this town be-
tween midnight and morning, and as they didn't
think 1t worth while to go to bed, and couldn't
have found any place II they had, they wan
dered aimlessly about arousing suspicious in
the minds Of the local constabulary. On ordi.
nary days they would have had long to wait for
any company other than that of the milkman or
the early delivering grocer's boy; but this is
Poughkeepsie's greatest day of the year, and the
town awoke several hours before its usual time,
Then began the Transformation. The town be-
came q sort of composite campus. Its streets
were turned into quadrangles. its hotels into
dormitories, and the picturesque language &C.
quired by the American youth when he has been
for a short time under the fostering care of his
alma mater Allied the air. II the curriculum
seemed to consist mainly In mathematics of that
branch concerning Itself with ratios such as 2 to
i, z to 5, % to 90, or Harvard against tho field,
and so on, the zeal with which tho under
graduates pursued this study should be consld.
cred as fully compensatinR for the one-sidedneas
Of the course.
Colors seemed to DO pretty evenly distributed,
though not impartially mingled. for tho blue
showed a tendency to gather In certain spots.
the crimson at other places. and tho red and
white at still different locations. Wherever
Q bunch of color was seen there was q reunion,
with much Handwriting and asking OF questions,
always terminating with the most important
question:
what do you think of our chances Z"
Every one thought differently, OF course. Such
o variety Of opinions could hardly have been
found in a political convention. Most of tho
college men had more or less straight tips which
they were entirely ready to impart to their
friends. but weren't 80 eager to bet on them.
selves.
HOW THE BETS WERE MADE.
On what grounds the betting was done is a
mystery that nobody could find out. It was
strictly go-as-you-please betting. Every crew
was the favorite. II you found the right place.
A sun reporter, walking up from the station to
the Nelson House, found a different style OF bet
on every corner. Half way up tho hill was a
group of Harvard men.
1--WE been offering 8 to 4 on Harvard against
the field. and . to l the field against Cornell"
said one of them. land I've only got a few bets
Near the Post Office stood a crowd of Cornell
"Bots," said the one with the biggest Maitland.
why, j want to bet that Cornell will beat Yale,
and III give Odds, or III take o to- and Cornell
porter meditated ON the confusion that would
result II the Cornell bettor should meet the Har-
yard sport, when he overheard II Yale man
lamenting the dearth OF Cornell money:
Harvard might beat u.s." said the soH OF Eli,
but Cornell's n cinch; but they haven't got
any money. I've been trying TO place $25 on
Yale to S2O on Cornell. and | suppose III have
10 come down to $25 to $l5."
Under these conditions the wall OF a rod-oyed
gentleman who had escorted a wheel of fortune
tothC locality IL not TO he wondered at.
"Lust my blasted luck T. he lNnCntcd. "Wot's
a.whecl OF fortune TO The odds u fly mug could
pick up here9 wy. IL | had Il pile OF a couple o.
thou / could make a book that'd stand Z win
ten thou, an no lose ,i4 II; III only had the
backin' I'd be rich tonight"
In one hotel the poolroom was frankly given
up 70 betting. In a little fcnced'off Enclosure