The San Francisco call., 1910-06-29
SCENES ALONG THE ROAD
EN- ROUTE TO THE DERBY
Spectacle Is Unlike Any Other
Known to Men

To be on the road to the derby is
ike being on the road to nowhere else
In no other event which attracts ma
1i0nal attention is the business of get
Ting TO the scene of the actual occur
renee made so much Of Many spec
tators gather along various points
OF the route from the Elephant and
Castle to footing to watch the amaz-
ing variety Of vehicles conveying an
equally striking variety of occupants.
The number OF onlookers at the most
recent derby seemed to be greater than
usual, but the traffic was, If anything,
below the average In volume.
Some changes in the nature Of the
traffic are noticed, however. as years
20 bv. and II would scarcely be an ex-
aggeration to characterize the present
event. from the travellers point OF
view. as a taxi-derby, says the London
Globe. There was also a strikingly
large number OF private motor cars,
from the big touring vehicle TO the
wheezy little affair that some inge-
rious engineer had put together for
himself. On they sped, or crawled, all
the occupants wearing the derby smile,
and fortified with substantial looking &
hampers. Sometimes the Boxes and
packages proclaimed openly the taste
OF the race goers In certain brand OF
whisky or champagne. There could be
no doubt however, that the shadow Of
the recent national loss still lay over
the days rejoicings, and there was no
boisterousnesg.
But II was the occupants of vehicles
other than motor cars who most inter-
ested the crowds. First and foremost
there was the inevitable coster on his
barrow, and II the "moke" does not ap-
pear TO be in such great evidence as
former years it's patient activities have
been well replaced by those Of a sturdy
little pony. AS for the freight OF the
berrows. though the coster Of Chevalier
may now be only a picturesque mem
ory, Mrs. Coster, at any rate, has pre-
served undimmed the splendor of cos
tune which becomes her station.
Pearlfes may have disappeared from
the attire Of the male coster, his trou-
sers may have lost that beautiful bell
like formation round the ankles which
once made his domains" heart beat
with pride and JOY, but time can not
alter nor custom stale the wondrous
garb Of her who shares his joys and
sorrows. BY her. at any rate, the few
vers" which sweep round the hat and
fall across the forehead in billoWy
waves shall ever be given their true
place on such occasions as this. The
cut and color Of Bits clothes may con-
form MORE to those of ordinary mortals
than in days gone by, but she at least
viii cling to coiors which smite the
eye like q physical blow. These and
many other points of interest the spec
tators observe and are cheered thereat.
Wondrous feats are performed in the
way Of the disposal of many stones of
human body. and all the lays of gravi-
tation seem 10 be defied. How a family
OF five is packed into a turnout that
can comfortably hold only two; how
the ample proportions of fair charm
ers froIsl Lambeth, Walworth and other
places cause microscopic barrows to
rock without turning over: how crazy
little vehicles bear the most amazing
hurdens-these things must be seen to
be believed.