The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-06
why is it that tho Delaware pcoplc
arc called .blue hens chickens?S.
~ "a MAnouIsE DE roNrENoY.

4
Western States, the discovery OF
| oil or of silver Will bring into
~ sudden existence large and pop
| ulous towns within the space OF
1iew and unsupported coal beds as
quickly change the entire character
of, Of a countryside in England Untn
was celebrated far and wide for its
annual races. while I'm the county It
SELF It was looked upon In the light
Of an important agricultural centre.
Suddenly and unexpectedly. cnorm-
ously rich beds Of coal have been dis
covered within II radius or six miles
% OF Doncaster They are pronounced by
united Kingdom to contain not merely
millions, but many billions OF the
inest kind OF bituininous coal equal
TO the Welsh, and already twenty d!f-
| ferent coal pits are being sunk, while
new boring operations are in prog
ress. Each pit affords. roughly speak
ing. employment for some 1000 work
ers. who, with their families and de-
pendents. make totality OF at least
10000. Thus. twenty coal pits mean
an addition TO the population OF Dom
caster, OF over 100000.
The sudden influx OF a new popula-
ton or 100000 to countryside Nth
crto wholly agricultural. constitutes
such radical change and presents so
that representatives Of the govern
ment, also tho Archbishop Of York and
MS suifraEans the Lord Lieutenant
and the High Sherifr OF the county
the presidents or various Industrial
| unions. as we'll as tho members of
The Parliamentary Commission on
consultation with the Mayor and mu-
nicipaltty of Doncaster, the total pop
ulation of which until a year ago was
under 10000.
One OF the principal results OF this
transformation OF Doncaster from
green into black country Will be
the abandonment of number of grand
country seats In the vicinity, and the
permanent departure OF their occu-
pants. who ever since the beginning
OF the reign of George III. IN the
middle of the eighteenth century, have
been contributing to render the Dom
caster races the most aristoCratic in
the lsinEdom--more so even than Good
w 'o' despite the ownership OF the
so even than royal Ascot. Year In and
year out. the Doncastcr races have
i'lled every, country place in that part
blue blooded in the United Kingdom
and an invitation TO a house party
Tor the St. I.eger was considered even
more desirable than one for the AS
cot week.
II the Doncaster races arc kept up
Tor some time longer, their character
viii bewhoily changed. and it is prob
space of time be Abandoned
With them Will disappear tho only
races race IN the world that are mnnict-
the ST. Leger has been run every
Year since 1878 belongs to the mu-.
nlcipality of the town of Doncastcr.
which has furnished 100000 a year as
stake money, besides paying all fees,
such as clerks OF scales, judges, handi-
cappers and so on. and yet has man
AGED TO clear a profit Of nearly $780,
ou0 r. year from the races. The cor
roration runs the whole thing in
conjunction with the Jockey Club.
which Is responsible for the technical
side Of tho racing, and Doncastcr Is to
mo best of my knowledge the only
municipality in the world that not
merely derives revenue from u race
course, but actually runs the race
ineeting The finances Of the races are
IN charge Of tho borough accountant.
he town clerk is the legal adviser Of
The officers or the meeting. ind the
borough surveyor and his stan attend
TO keeping the race course the stands
and the approaches in proper condi-
tion. or course, the actual revenue
which the municipality Of Doncaster
draws from the Doncastcr race meet
ing and from the ST. Leger race con-
tributes only a small proportion OF
:, ne wealth which reaches the town and
It's Inhabitants each year through hun
dreds of other channels in connection
Win these races. and until now, 1t may
be said Of tho people or Doncaster
mat they have been all WELL o do
while the rates and taxes have been
90 per cent. less than the average
minimum rate Of other English towns
and cities. The great influx Of mining
population and the abandonment Of
the races which have been q source OF
SO much prosperity are bound to change
all this ere long.
How closely the good people OF Don
caster were Identified with the race
meeting Is shown by tho fact that nm
I'll comparatively recent times the
fine peal Of bells Of the grand old par
ish church or Doncasicr used 10 be
rung on st. Lcser Day, and generally
rang when the winner passed tho post.
Perhaps under the circumstances i
should add that in spite or popular
impression 10 the contrary the parish
church does not bear the name of st.
LeScr. and thatNthe famous race does
not take It's name from the church. hut
from Lieutenant General Anthony ST.
Leger.. to whose suggestion tho found
ing Of the race was due. two years
after the proclamation OF tho inde-
pcndence OF tho United States
4 The st, I.cgers are one of tho oldest
families in tho United Kingdom TIE.
founder Of no family, Sir Robert st.