The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-04-01

however, even the hotels were crowded.
and all the large private houses were
packed to overaowtng with visitors to the
tenth degree of relationship or friend
ship. caa u
The races were usually he'd at the
height of the social season, which was
also the off-SeaSon for the planters, about
the end of January or the first of Feb
ruary. One Of the famous Saint Cecilia
balls was always given during the week.
to which, however, only guests Of the
very highest social standing were ever
invited. Splendid private entertainment s
were given on the other nights, and there
was always some special attraction at ia
very good theater-fors. Charleston was
also the first city to have the Ifer-cither
a fine concert or one eof Shakespeate's
plays. But the horses were the main
subject of conversations at night as weH
as by day. Many rwere the wonderful
tales told of fine racers as the men sat
over their fine vines for by this time the
Jockey club had become, famous also for
its Madeira wine. which was imported d.
rectly for it's own use.
This Madeira of the South Carolina
Jockey club was, by the way, the most
famous wine ever brought to this eoun-
try, and, the lovers and rare oid-wine
tasters In Charleston used to say, the
finest in the world. 1t was brought over
in the holds of ships especially preFared
for 1t, the casks lying between boards.
which allowed the casks to be, gently
rocked by the motion of the boat, and
gave It, according to the expaits OF
Charleston, its peculiarly fine HaVor,
which was still further improved after 1t
had laid for years in the damp cellars or
Charleston. None of this wine was ever
in President Arthur's possession, rs IL
was claimed, nor can 1t be purchased any
where now. One Of the Oldest members
of the club said not long ago tftit the
Madeira that was still In the possession
of the Jockey club until after the war,
was distributed among the officers of The
club when it was decided to abandon
racing. These few devoted members priH
ing it more than any gold, slowly drank
1t up on rare and great occasions. mere
may be a few bottles of 1T still In Charles
ton, but it never has been and never VIII
be for sale.
Races were held every year with I'M
VARYING success on the washington race
course in Charleston uf4til the Civil war.
Mr. James Rose, who was considered to
be the finest Judge Of WINE as well as or
Thoroughbred horses I'm the state, was a
most successful president of the South
Carolina Jockey club for great NUM-
Der of years. He was succeeded by the
last ante-bellum president, Mr.. Charles r.
Lowndes, in 1859. Mr.. I16wndes was pres
ident until 1875, and used all his great
social and financial Influence to make the
races q success after the war. But the
state was too poor to take an interest in
them any longer. In spite Of everything
that could be done To prevent 1t, the races
began to drift into professionalism. and
the attendance was confined almost en-
tirely to "blacklegse and 'carpet-bag'
gers who then infested the state.
The last president OF the club was Maj.
Theodore 8. Barker, man thoroughly
worthy of the honor, and a brave soldier
on Hampton's staff during the Civil war.
When he was elected president, In 1875,
the Jockey club had lost so much through
the deterioration of its property by the
war. and the poor attendance at its races.
that 1t was desperate struggle until
1883, when 1t was decided TO give up rae
ing. While the membership had fallen off