The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-11


room Of a village inn and he spun me the
yarn over pot of beer. He assured me il
vas true. and as by his own account he
was a. principal actor in the events de-
scribed he certainly ought to know
However, whether true or not, il strikes
me as being decidedly interesting. and
hone sir, that it may strike you in the same
light. Ny only doubt is whether it NAV
uerhaps, be ancient history 10 some Of your
readers. myself, at any rate Though
en- tolerably au fait with turf annals) had
never heard it before. which causes me to
believe that it Will probably be a novelty
10 the public
II you should be unable to use the story
Will you kindly return same TO me at above
address. Yours obedientIy,
The Editor of Truth.
The story is quite new to me and also to
10y sporting correspondent. to whom
handed it for perusal. The latter gentle
man. l may add. is so exceptionally we'll
acquainted with old turf legends that what
l. news 10 him in this way is bound to be
news 10 almost all of my readers Backed
b. his authority / am under little aDpre-
hensicn that / am publishing a chestnut
With this much explanation herewith
present the story as received.-Ed. Truth
It a blazing hot afternoon at the be-
ginning of the present month, seeming all
the hotter because it had just come in after
a spell Of cold and cherries weather; and
the taproom of the primitive village ale
house felt delightfully."- cool and comfortable
TO me, dusty thirsty, sun-scorched pedes-
TRAN. l had it all to myself, too, except
for one other man. an old, wrinkled. gray
haired rustic. attired in the picturesque
smock frock, now, alas! so rapidly becom-
ing obsolete. He was discussing the ale
out of blue Delft mug, smoking Herewith
one Of the houses church wardens
The way in which he nursed and hus-
banded the contents of that pipe-bowI-a
moderate-sizsd thinbleful Of shag-sucking
On, bo gin rIx-a 4
due restraint, SO as to spin it out as long as
possible, struck me not little; and 1
wished, for the sake of my pocket, that 1
could make my own tobacco go as far. 1t
was the same with his ale, which he was
consuming by 4 process of sips. INDUCED in
at MISUNDERSTANDING, dignifed sips, al
together free from iIl-bred haste or ILL
hammered eagerness. 1 felt a sense of rest
fitness. of repose, in watching him. In this
age of hurry and hustle, it is truly soothing
10 the nerves TO meet With such a man.
1 took my own mug of cider and sat down
near him. He eyed me, slowly, critically
out OF the corners of his washed-out eyes;
then. without a word, he pushed his mug
toward me along the table. / am suffi-
GENTLY conversant with the etiquette of viii
lage alehouses and reciproeated. I pushed
my mug of cider toward him. Then 1 slipped
his ale. He slipped my cider. After that we
solemnly re-eXchanged mugs. Formal intro
auctions were complete. We were on speak
ing terms.
Fine day. 'owever," was his opening re-
mark.
Beautiful I assented.
"Biking?' he inquired. with an eye to my
hot and dusty appearance.
No" / rejoined, walking"
I'm glad of un.' he said.
'Why?' 1 asked.
Il ates bikes and bikers!" he answered
'STheres too many of EN- about. Nasty,
terrifying things!"
You get too many through here, dare
say"
Aye! aye! durn EN-! Ringing their bells
at ee ard making ee jump; or rushing parst
ee without warning and leaving ee parilyzed
And little lateg, when Goodwoods on, we
shall ave EN- ere in swarms. Coming to
Goodwood on bikes" Che spoke with fine
scorn) ugh It's sacrilidge. But there
there! Goodwooo bean't wot it wuz be un,
mister?" he said. turning to the landlord for
corr oboration.
No not wot it was, Jem," replied that
Individual, who was sitting in his shirt
sleeves behind the bar, coming a sporting
paper.
Il can mind" continued my rustic, taking
has church warden from between his teeth
ture, when the Goodwood Cup was one OF
the events O the year. But look at I'm now.
quite sec nd-clarse affair, bean't I'm, mis-
Wen, yer see, there's not many cup
osses about nowadays" said mine host,
J. dicially. They don't breed stayers now
And why's that? Why's that, / say?"
demanded the old man, growing more and
more dogmatic. Just becoS more moneys
offered at other meetings for short dis
y-money-money! And docks, and
hearls, and lords, and sportsmen grabs after
1t like so many shopkeepers. Now / can
mind the time when the honor and glory O.
winnin' the Goodwoog Cup was enough to
there's 'undreds as 'ardly thinks it's worth
running for. on They's a mean-spirited
lot on the turf nova mean-spirited lot,
You can remember a great many Good
woods, dare say?' ! suggested, smiling.
My remark evidently struck the old man
~ the light of tremendous joke. He
tchuckled hugely. as if it were the finest
thing he had ever heard. Then he turned
10 ms friend the landlord.
What say to that, mister? 'A-asks
WheVer I've seen great many Goodwoods2
1t Be funny question to ask be a,r,,t 15e
other And then he explained to me:
1T, Its Jem.s boast, sir; that he has not
he was ten years old. And now he's up
pards of eighty"
Eighty six-eighty-six struck in Jem,
with proud consciousness of the fact. And
m younger nor many a chap O seventy
now. | can walk twelve miles, and can do
q bit of hay-making. | amt dead. / never
wears glasses. and my mem rvs as good as
ever il wuz-eh mister?'
Aye, thee hast wunnerful mem'ry, Jem,
for shure." assented the landlord. "Nowt's
happened in the neghborhood this eighty
year but Jem can call it to mind, he said
- me Evidently, from his manner, he took
a vicarious pride in the old mans powers.
from hearsay-some from 'aving took part
IN EN-. Aye. I've took part in some inn
lortant things in my time. | was in the
'Elter-Skelter affair."" he added, very I'M
preSsiNely
Were you. indeed?' ] said. affecting sur
prise at thu statement, though had not the
TemOteSt notion to what he referred.
Perhaps he gathered this from my man
ner. At any rate he said. in tone of evil
cent pity:
"But there, What be good O. talking to
&c about that. dessay thee never heard o
'klter-Skelter?"
lie was a horse. wasn't hep hazarded:
The old fellow raised his hands and opened
wide his washed-out eyes, with an air OF
compassionate wonder.
We'll l never. Did we hear THAR ne
chuckled to the landlord. t'A-asks eff
'Elter-Skelter wuz a 'oss. A oss-a 'oss;
just as if he might a been a heifer. And
i'm the best cup 'oss wot ever run. Wen,
well. Fame doan't live long. arter all, do
"Taint every one as can carry his mem
ory back sixty year thee know. Jem." said