Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-27

didn't win any money-nor lose any for
the matter Of that-when took an after
noon off to run DOWN to the Gravesend race
track the other day" remarked a buyer
a Washington department store who has
just returned frome the big town across tne
North river from Jersey City. ''but wit
messed two Or three little incidents in the
course of ths afternoon that had humor in
them. tn
zone of them was when Franz Ebert, the
midget actors whu has frequently Travelled
over the United States with company OF
dwarf comedians, twas invited to mount the
starters platforms by Starter Pettingilf to
witness the start in one of the races. Inc
little chap-hel Is mot much bigger than
drink Of water-is an inveterate racegoer,
1t seems and he appeared to be well &C
qualnted with all of the leading omciais oh
the course. He was sumptuously dressed
most prosperous n1idgets run strongly 70
ra1ment and jewelry-and his funny strue
and his air Of profound wisdom and impor-
lance as he strolled about the lawn were
entertaining to watch.
Starter Pettingiu was on his way across
the lawn to go to the starters platform
just before one Of the races, and he came
upon the midget just as he was ABOUT 70
pass through the gate leading onto the
track.
Come on and see the start" said the
starter. amiabiy. and the dwarf accepted
the invitation and toddled alongside the
starter to the platform, creating laugh IN
the stand on account Of the number OF Steps
he had to take to the starters one III oroef
to keep up with the procession.
This race was at mile, and the star.
was right in front Of the stand. leaned
on the rail- close to the starung poin.'
amused at the solemnfty OF the dwarI az,
pushing his glossy silk hat back ON MS
forehead. he studied the skirmishing OF ne
horses before the barrier. He stood rlshl
alongside the starter on the platform. ,,,+
THE horses were pretty fractious, pu'
gradually they began to get into Alignment,
and the starter was fumbling with the
electric button that releases the parrier
and seemed about to yell Come on TO tne
Jockeys. when the dwarf at his side sud
denly went pale and clutched at tho star-
tied starters arm.
'Don'd start dem yet! he yelled In his
shrill treble to the starter, pointing 10 one
of the horses. a rank outsider, that was
turned the wrong way Of the post. Don
you see YOU are leating me at de post, acn
himmel!
"A roar went up from the crowd and the
starters sides heaved. He sent the horses
away in cavalry front moment later
and the dwarfs horse got a good position,
but he couldn't hold 1t. and finished In the
ruck The look Of intense gloom that per-
vaded the midget as he descended the
stand when his horse had nnlshed way
back was convulsing.
STANDING beside me by the rail as the
horses were going to the post for one OF
the races was an elderly Hibern1an, VINO
looked uueerly out Of place on race track
He was rugged out In the garb or WORK
ingman. and he looked like truck driver
or a warehouse porter. But his eyes were
ablaze with expectancy as the last morse
in the. procession to the post filed by the
stand. He surveyed this horse critically,
and his grizzIed countenance was illuminat-
ed with happiness as he did so. Obvious
ly he had got tip on that animal Inc
horse was one of Father Bill Days, no.
good brute named Trump, and on this at
ternoon his price was 100 to /. If the old
1rishman next to me hadn't played the
horse because he was possessed by an
Irishman. then 1t was because some joking
tipster had meanly advised him to Invest
his money on the 90 to l shot
The old Milesian's excitement increased
visibly when the horses took their places
before the barrier, and his dumb. panto-
mimic roofing for Trump was funny to see.
After a very short delay the barrier was
lifted and the horses sped ahead. The
favor4te at once drew out In front and led
ell the way hcme. All Of the other horses
in the race were well past the wire when
the no-account Trump was still clomping
heavily down thei stretch. The old Irish
mans CONSERVATION and wrath were ire
mendous. AS Trump, beaten more than a
sixteenth of a mile, cantered down the
track past where we were standing, the old
man made a1funna of his hands. and. with
all the seri0usnsss in life. ne yelled at the
jockey sitting on Trump's back: ry.
-" 'Oi say, :pwhatodelayed yeeZ?
Il went up intoithe stand, on the second
floor. toahave a look at the last race on the
card, and found a. seat alongside a middle
aged countryman. who for all the life look
ed like the conventional farmer as pictured
in the funny picture papers in the act CT
buying gold bricks green goods, and so on
How earth he had ever drifted onto
race track was more; than l could make
out. but, more particularly, how he ever
limo mad hot hR h If iolyt
winner in that last race, which was COM
posed of no less than eighteen maiden
three-y ear-olds, was too deep for me. But
l had scarcely taken a seat by him before
he handed over to a grinning grand-stand
commissioner a S. note to be placed on
horse in the race called The Beggar a.
100 to / to win. He had to fish around in
all of his pockets long time, too, before
he found the~s5 bill, and 1t seemed as II
he had had pretty unprosperous afternoon
of it.
He was plainly in a great state Of trepi-
dalton before the trumpet sounded sum-
moning the horses to the post. and fidgeted
and squirmed about in his seat in way
that indicated his intense solicitude for
The Beggar in the race.
1.-The start was beautiful. and this time,
too. the favorite hoped out In front and
tow-roped his field from start to finish.
The Beggar came In a rank, hopeless last.
beaten about an eighth Of a mile by the
entire field. The old agriculturist at my
side jumped up when he saw the jockey s
colors on his horse as the animal numbered
dismally past the judges stand. He shook
his fist fiercely in the direction Of the last
of the 'also-rans,' and shouted
d" The Beggar, are We, goldarn yer con-
sarned hide!-and that's whit we've made
out O. me, by Jimmy cricketts!
II would have been willing to bet as he
stormed out Of the stand that that would
be his last visit to a race track"