The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-28
the afflucnt, hospitality Of the elder day bestc

The colonial gentleman of exubcrant spirits,
expression and expenditure After the long years Of hard
ships and sucrings there followed an era Of Unusual and
eighteenth century have truly been designated as the golden
age Of Virginia They alluded to more than any other
cey and the conditions Of Industrial life were
such to afford large time and opportunity for the pursuit
OF pleasure During the winter months large number OF
planters went to Williamsburg and INDUCED in ncessant
round Of gaees Of one sort and another There the
meeting Of the Grand Assembly. There the theatre
brought and companies from London presented the colonial
e b e
Gent intervals in the famous Apollo apartment in the Raleigh
is to BE- seen in the eav es Of c P he tells
OF the escapadcs Of the college boys and OF the hrobbin
Streets the balls the Raleigh Tavern in which he and
his dear Belinda danced the happy hours away.
Not all of the nduged in by the colonial
teman free from the criticisms OF and cruelty
There avoe entertainment furnished by cruel game
that was called gougng Two combaans engaged one an
other in muscular contest the main of which was to
batants found the eyebal of the other unless he
ten and o the fight he apt lose his eye as
had their fingers and nails manicued in such as to in-
their effectiveness conflict of this Sort the nails
process known to the expert gougers Of the day
Cards and dice were also popular amusenens indulgence
than the Grand Assembly felt that the widespread
tom demanded official recognition and regulatienDebsfos
Keepers Of and public houses were forbidden under
severe penalty, to allow gambling in public places
HOrSeracng considered the especial sport OF the
colonial gentleman The development of the racehorse
rapid long time before the colonial gentleman
thought of the horse being for udgery but consid
cred him animal afford them pleasure rather than
profit that great pride taken especially the saddle
horse Horseback riding universal accomplishment,
both for the colonial gentleman and the colonial dame One
of the first signs Of increased prosperity then, is
the purchase of horse by the colonial swain Il
natural that with such general pride in the horse,
it about that torseracng the sport among
the gentlemen of the day There certain astoca
tensions about the that received legislative recognition
and there enacments governing the sport excluding
from those who entitled to the OF gentlemen.
There record in the of York county where said
that James Bullock tailor having nade for his
with horse belonging to Matthew Slater, for two
thousand pounds Of tobacco and caske being contrary
law for aborer to make being sport only for
tlemen is fined for the hundred pounds OF tobacco
and caske and the record proceeds to further state that
whereas Mr. Matthew Slater and James Bullock, by condi-
under the hand and seal of the said Slater that his horse
should of the way that Bulocks might win,
which cheat ordered to be the stocks
and there sit for one hour"
In 1890 very for horses to be kept only for
racing and many convenient places race paths
tabfished At Williamsburg there elaborate arrange
made for the conduct of twice year. the
and in the spring Provisions made for starters
judges and the usual regulations weights andicaps OF
sort and another The at Williamsburg was Tor
ing plainly evident that the Vrgnan seeking simply
the quality OF speed but the combined qualities OF speed and
durability in their racing stock
Cockfighting general and gruesome pastlnc among
the Virginia gentlemen great attention given to the
rearing good fighting stock and great in its train
ing. The sport have been very general The
authorities William Mary College obliged to leg