New-York tribune., 1905-07-03
GLIMPSES OF ASCOT.
Unique Distinction of the Annua,
Social ReUeI around Windsor.
London. June 81

was a modest beginnins-a plate OF a hundred
guineas for single race around the heatn IN
the common; but there was royal patronase
behind it, and decade after decade thls mas
been exerted with cumulative iOrce- Ina
races have steadily increased In Value' until
there is now a. bakers dozen Of stakes lnciud~N
ing the Gold Cup. the Coronation the Ftoyal
Hunt and the Hardwick. exceeding SI@otVo
and 100000 Is a low estimate OF the vaius
of the blue blooded horses running IN s'hSls
contest. The royal inclosure. repeatedly en-
,ar,,ed row accommodates 1000 privileged
spectators. and the struggle to obtain adnis-
sio, begins early. and continues with
abated ardor. until the lists are clOssd- The
Lord Chamberlain is equal to the ordinary
social demands upon the favor OF the court.
but il Is with difficulty that he survives ths
pressure for places at Ascot which Is twice
as exclusive as a garden party or pan az
buckingham Palace. To be numbered among
the elect in the royal ,inclOsure is one OF the
highest aspirations Of the smartest among ths
smart, and exclusion from the charmed circle.
when the royal carriages are driven over from
Windsor and are loudly cheered as soon as tna
glints of red are seen at the further end OF ths
course. causes envy and heartburning among
thousands Of aspirants who have oeen pre-
sented at court. but for one reason or another
racing crowd. with thousands Of pleasurs
seekers by train from London; but everybody
who is anybody Is in the incirsuro. where ths
brightest frocks and gayest hats OF the season
are to be SEEN There Fashion retgns for a
week under the shadow OF TIE throne. with
1000 subjects In a revised AMI carefully
enumerated Vanity Fair.
Neither Royalty nor Fashion can order ths
conditions OF a perverse climate. EAe pro-
Ionged drought. which has starved the straw
berry crop and nearly ruined the gardens. has
been followed by showery and uncertain wealth
er. equally destructive to the delicate blooms ot
the milliner and the dressmaker. The first two
days of Ascot have been spoiled by cloud and
rain. The grandstand has been filed with dis
appointed spectators; the line OF carriages.
motor cars and drags has been smaller than
usual and the brilliant costumes IN the In
closure have needed the shelter OF umbrellas
for at least half the time. Nature has taken
compassion on the envious aspirants for social
honors who were excluded They will not os
without their own sources Of consolation.
when those enjoying the favor Of the Lord
Chancellor nonchalantIy remark: I'VE did noe
see YOU at Ascot" The sport OF the spectators
on the grandstand has also been marred- or
dinarily during the intervals OF the races. they
amuse themselves by calculating what the
stakes
ming for them would fetch. and how much has
been spent on the bright and beautiful cos
tunes in the incIosure. The last estimate has
not been practicable when hundreds Of UNI
brellas have been raised. and the ALTERNATIVES
proposed by imaginative calculatOrs. the
reckoning Of the millions represented by the
owners or occupiers OF the country houses
round about Windsor, has been too proble-
matte a game. Nature has disposed the for
tunes Of the opening days OF this Ascot. yet
not relentlessly .and wantonly. There have
been intervals between showers when the
tasteful and dainty costumes could be seen and
admired and there was no rain when ths
royal procession was reformed and the King.
the Queen and the guests at the Castle
were driven Off at walk in open carriages.
with postillions IN scarlet and gold. and OUT
riders aiame with royal cOlors.
Something more than showery weather Is
needed If an Ascot is to be spoiled for the bet
ting en- and the holiday crowd. The races are
well contested by the best bred stock IN the
kingdom. and the tips fairly trustworthy:
the favorites come out well. The course had
been so thoroughly worked and dressed for
weeks that the showers dampened IT and laid the
dust without interfering with the chances oe
any horse or adding q second to the time OF any
race. The royal professions. the parade IN the
transitory excitement OF the winning numbers.
when losses and gains could be forgotten IN
sheer love Of goo1 sport. were enjoyed with the
usual zest by the betting men and lOungers. The
sideshows. moreover. were not lacking The
Ascot is not a great open-air fete conducted on
popular lines like the democratic Derby: yet is
is not a dull festival for the masses. There Is
lot OF fun at the fair outside the royal In
closure. There peep-shows without num-
Der; there are gypsies masquerading IN fantastic
colors and burlesquing the glories of the costly
costumes: there are groups OF minstrels with
blackened faces singing out OF tune and receiv-
ing pennies from every careless hand: and thers
is the happy-go-lucky holiday crowd, swaying
with excitement when the horses are moving
and Indifferent TO wetting so long as there is .
chance for prohting by a shrewd tip in the
newspapers or from the stables It Is as orderly
a crowd as can be found on any holiday any
where In Europe For this reason one must
wonder that 1t Is considered necessary to have
a magistrates court on the ground for prompt
dealing with offenders.
Queen Anne's Ascot has become revel Of
fashion without parallel in the world OF sport.
There may be racing at Newmarket early and
late in the season. but there Is week
like Ascot week; and neither Goodwood in the
south nor the St. Leger in The north can bs
compared with 1t In social distinction For .
week Ascot is little less than the diplomatic
capital. with all the Embassies represented in
the inclOsure and all the country houses within
distance from Windsor filed with
smart. people. The Ascot has put a royal
premium upon every mansion OF any preten-
sons in the district where guests can be enter