Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-30
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interesting to watch the gradual approach
of one boat upon another, the desperate
attempt to win free Of pursuit, the WILD
steering Of the coxswain in the stern
| In order to escape that fatal thrill which
is the signal for both crews to throw
| down their oars
| Sport exercises, indeed at present, the
chief part In the outdoor life Of the sea-
son. Deprived, for the time, Of the win
! ter amusements Of hunting and shooting,
| the athletic idle Bnglishman throws him
| self into the pastimes of driving and
polo. The annual parade of the Coach
ing Club is attended by vast crowds
Polo is played In the club grounds at
Hurlingham, Ranelagh and Roehampton.
Ranelagh not half an hours drive from
Piccadilly Circus, Is an ideal spot on
sultry July afternoon, under the old trees
upon the green iawns, clean cut and
| springy as only an English lawn can be-
| come after century or two Of rolling
and watering or in boat upon the lake,
where the roar Of the nearby city is
| almost unheard. Here the chief polo
matches are played between members OF
| the crack regiments, in front Of the
| grand stand, with its royal box, which
| is not infrequently graced by the pres
| ence of the king. Croquet Is also played
| here. and there are driving competitions
| for ladies', horse and dog shows and bal
| loon ascents, form Of enterprise which
i is rapidly becoming a craze in fashion
able London, stage coach and automobile
races. band Of one of the Guards regi-
| ments discourses music during these per-
| formances.
For those who cannot spare the time
during the day In which to exercise there
is the mllder diversion of skating on real
| ice at Princes, which Is open all through
the summer and has turned out Doms
first-class amateurs.
Perhaps the great national fete day,
however, is Derby Day, early In June
| On that date no sslf-respecting English
man would dream Of going to work. Up
| till the death OF Lord Palmerston parlis-
| ment used to adjourn for this event an
nually. 1t is the one day celebrated
! with equal enthusiasm by rich and poor,
| by noble and plebeian, but perhaps most
| of all by the humble, ubiquitous coster-
| monger, who takes his "missus" and the
"nipper'' for a spin in his little push
| cart, drawn by the willing but surely
overweighted ''moke." 1t Is hardly pos
sible to describe the crush and confusion
which on this day turn sedate Epson
into a carnival Of licensed joiiity. The
course is crowded with minstrels, negroes,
gypsy fortunes tellers, betting men, three
card men, fakirs Of every kind, walking
among the horses legs and between the
carriages occupied by well-groomed men !
and women, shouting the rudest badinage
to delicate ladies', who apparently enjoy
the sport. Every train that leaves the
platforms Of the railway companies IL
an EPSON Special. Every carriage Is
choked with a mass Of humanity. In
south London, Clapham Common and
Remington are black with people, and
the roads are one endless procession Of
vehicles; four-in-hands, driven by white
hated ''swells," landaus, barouches, and
costers' wagons, all Of whom are cheered
impartially by the dense crowds making
their way on foot to the grounds. The
return course is a slow one, for Bill
and his brother punters who have won
a few shillings on the races consider II
their duty to get out and give the moke
q rest" at every public house-anJ pub
lie houses are almost thicker than black
berries along the EPSON road. Again,
II Bill has not pulled of that little bit
he had placed on the favorite. he gets
out "just for luck," and with his ''oid
woman" proceeds to drink to better luck
on the next occasion. until only the sober
moke, longing for his stable IN HORTON
or the New Cut, Lambeth, stands be-
tween the party and complete disaster.
Then there are the races at Sandown
and Newmarket. and above all at Ascot,
royal Ascot" as 1t is termed, because
specially under the countenance Of King
Edward, himself the chief patron of the
English turf.
Society life Is strenuous The season
is the time for all kinds Of charitable.
social, and financial enterprises. Huge
bazaars are gotten up for eleemosynary
purposes, at which ladies' of title sell
worthless articles at inflated prices; and
should the king or queen be induced to
attend an enormous financial recoupment
may be confidently anticipated. Girls
from the country take advantage Of the
opportunity afforded them to attend
classes and lectures, and especially those
concerts which have Of recent years made
London one of the most music-loving of
cities. Then there Is the Royal Acad-
emy, with host Of minor picture gal
leries, principally along Bond Street;
there are the entertainments given by the
art schools; and there are the numerous
political leagues. which are In England
largely controlled by women. such as tae
Women's Liberal and the Primrose
League.
The opera, too, holds a distinct place
in the favors OF the fashionable ZACH
season sees a new fashion in musical
work. At present Puccini Is the rage,
his Madame Butterfly" having created
quite a sensation the last season. Who
will hold his place during the ensuing
season no one can tell. On royal nights.
when the king and queen attend, the
robes and tiaras, the sparkling jewels.
the masses of gorgeous flowers which
cover the entire internal structure OF
the building present a scene OF unsur-
passable loveliness and luxury.
No wonder then tnat the close Of this
brief season OF storm and stress brings
with 1t the relaxation of the German
"cures;" or that after the fatigues and
efforts of summer the wealthy turn with
relief to the quiet Of their country homes,
until reviving spring reKindies once again
those burned-out ashes Of social emula-