The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-09
childhood, to learn the brain conditions of man immediately after he is be
"A RACE AT OLD MDrA1RIE,
Which Vas Won by the Soldier and l Author, Gen. Charles King.

New Orleans Picayune.
 One of the most thrilling chapters 1T, T. C.. DeLeon's Creole and Puritan is the realistic narrative of horse race cent City. Most of the latter-day gener- ation who read the exciting recital be- lieved 1t to be the product of the author [ fertile brain, and not an actual happen ing. The visit Of MT. De Leon to the city brought up the question. Some one fiction to learn that the race actually took place, and was social affair celebre among the smart set
 .'The race took place all right; re. the Louisiana, Jockey Club. at the Bos. ton Club one evening the past week. "ano they tell me that l was the judge. My recollection of the details Is not clear sweliest society races in the history oi the old Metairie Jockey Club:
 MT. Conno;' was secretary of the Club Few people kaow more of the doings al the. old Metairie course.
 ''In the first place." said Mir. Connor "peopie had money to spend in thos' days. We had only week of the races and those six days were one round o lavish expenditure. The club Wg wealthy. The members were moneyso men, and that week was set aside fsr furious frolic.
 Launches were spread in the graad stand. and in the judges quarters every day, and champagne flowed like water. Everybody helped themselves. and IL was wine and feasting every afternoon. The betting was run on corresoondins scaie. Roulette games and every sort of gamb ling known to the human brain was on the ground and the bets were heavy. The races were played on q grand scale, ana fortunes were won and lost out al tne old Metairie many . day.
 For a wiid-up to all this lavish sport, a society race was run on the last ar ternoon, in which the riders were vel feature always drew an immense crowd. and the ladies would go to witness 1t in the srandest of style and dress. The race was an amateur one. or course, put " provided the fun. The lunches on Ina' occasion were always a little more stump t,Ious, If possible. and such a course as pate de foic gras was common entre on the menus.
 such F race was the one which De Leon describes. l remember that Charley King won It. King Is now a Brigadfer- General in the United States Army, re- tired At that time he was young army officer, captain, who had been on the stan of either General Augur or General a West Pointer. and a fine young fellow; Since then he has written q lot Of sooo stories and has made distinct mark Tn literature, as well as in the army. klna had entered the race as a rider.
 Another of the riders was De Creme vile, who was in the Austrian servics ir some capacity. He was in New or jeans on visit and was the guest of Mrs Slocomb, who was a recognized leao- CT of society. and was the mother ol the Countess di Rrazza.
 ..I do not recall any of the other riders, hut there were six or seven in all, II was a scrub race. so lar as the Jockey Club was concerned, but 1t was the pig seet drawing card of the meeting, The hsrses were borrowed from their owners for ;tha, occasion.
 pwhen the starters lined up in from of my stand, I remember telling them tna this was society event, and my advics would be to take their time for the nrsl hrea-auarters and then race in. The flag was dropped and the bunch was on By the time they had reached the hrsi quarter they were In a dead run ant whippins for all they were worth. II looked like a bunch of birds flying down the, track. all whipping with might ant main I said all of them. That Is nol correct. Charley King was not. He held back. The others had all reversed my instructions to wait until the 1ast auar ter for the real race. They were at " before the post was reached. .,
 By the time they rounded the three quarters. the animals were windeh tno the riders were too. with the exception of King. They had all backed up 10 him. and he had the wind. For the last quar- ter he let 70 and came in the winner.
 "Oniy the other day an old veteran al the Soldiers Home. named Hireonlmus wrote me. saying that Charley King d!n not win the race. He believes that nc won It. He says he rode in the contest, and that he was the lucky rider. But AT, very sure King was the winner.