Year: 1868

business TO hoard present penny at the expense OF
future pound-a man whose radical idea was per-
centage and who would even caicuiate tne per
oentage Of gratitude owing to him for isvor ex-
tsnded-a man who was 80 mstnemaucally
cool In all bis Instincts as 70 seem 70
have been Graded In O refrigerator. In
word. he was man born to be nnancer. So runs
. quaint old novelist's description Of q hero who
was 40 mlddiing cool in everything he did Tor did
mott as to put In mind Of the weather yesterday,
which was cool, mathematcaly exact even as the
way OF the wind, and withal, for June weather,
seemed to have been Graded In refrigerator and let
loose in the wrong month Of the year.


better day for the opening OF the spring meeting
OF the American Jockey Club has never occurred
since its Inauguration. The weather seemed actu-
ally to have been seized with spasm OF repentance
for It's misbehavior OF the day before and, by way
OF making honorable amends to the Jockey Club,
TO have put Its best face for the occa-
sion. There was no half-masting of nags to
say to the expectant, Braces are postponed on ac-
count OF the weather." and New York Fashion was
on the second day eratined with that which had
been denied her on the rst VIZ, pleasant day and
jaunt to the Fordham race course. Whether FASH
ion was contrary or In no mood for the jaun or was
otherwise engaged, or whatever was the matter,
Fashion was not punCtual In her attend
anoe az was the capricious empress last
spring. A days delay had possibly dampened, for
the day OF delay was damp one or had possibly
cooled her ardor and whereas last spring perfect
serpent OF vehicles wound to Jerome Park on the
first race day. wound four abreast three abreast
and without lost link in the backbone Of the black
procession that crawled through the Central Park
nOrthward this spring, on the other hand, there
were multitudnous breaks In the vertebrated giant
and the vehicles that composed IL were numbered by
hundreds instead OF thousands Perhaps, tOo the alb
sence Of the master spirit OF the project may have
contributed some little to dampen the popular ardOr
no little Of the popularity OF the FOrdham race
ground having been due to the personal popularity
Of It's founder. Perhaps, furthermore some little of
this dampering may have been due to the dim
suspicion on the part Of the public that q
less generous and large hearted liberality might
possibly be engrafted upon the management OF
spring meeting. Perhaps one, perhaps all,
perhaps none OF these considerations may have Ope-
rated and in this three men Morris OF "perhapses"
Al is not worth the while to be positive about any
thing. To say the least those who had brought bot
ties OF enthusiasm did not venture TO uncork them,
and those who had not were saved the trouble Of
corkscrew and pop and hzz as though
tnere mSe n n q e m Sacx %
the respect that whenever 1t Is uncOrked a Az Tor
fzzle) Is sure to be the consequence. Three things
may be stated. The road thither was in excellen t
condition, but at least one half the vehicles were
wanting; the track was In excellent order and the



spirits and sickness; but more than half
Of the audience which was there to see
i naIf that was there Kept It's enthusiasm bottled
Tor the second day. Some new regulations had also
been introduced which were not altogether popular,
though generally the affair was conducted In popu
lar veln All vehicles, except those with the club
badge, were compelled to ticket drivers and foot
men, regulation which, as many OF the carriages
provided with three or four footmen In
livery, was attended with more expense
than most bearers OF the red "pleaset -wear-con-
spicuously' were willing TO incur The consequence
that the audience without was quite as large as
the audience within and that ladies were compelled
to aiight without the gate and soil their slippers by
tramp 10 the main stand invoke their lords OF the
red badge to ticket footmen and driver thus invov
ing q financial question upon people who are some-
times a little sensitive. There was some Little ours
ing too. on the part Of the lords in question, and
more on the part OF the gentlemen In livery, though
II all TO no purpose. The customary band which
had formerly played with noisy brass from the club
house balcony, was also absent; and having nothing
else with which TO beguiIe the tedium OF waiting,
gentlemen had recourse to betting, and betting Ia
some cases very nJudiciously, suffered in pocket
thereby Moreover, those who had no liking for the
wager took TO lager at twenty-five cents q
glass and very bad whskey at thirty by way OF
Saisng bead upon the liquor OF their enthusiasm,
which was really waxing stale for want OF carbonic
acid gas; thus depicting their pockets with almost
equal rapidity, besides befuddng their wits and
rendering themselves liable to illustrate the with.
cism OF DR.. Jewett, OF "sraning bad whskey through
man and thereby spelling the strainer.n on the
whole, however, IL must be admitted that the vend-
ers OF lager beneath the main stand balcony proved
themselves very able nnanciers; and a. to their





'prohi,"t cannot be questioned. AS TO cigars, II
one happened 10 be In the mood to while away the
interval with twist OF the weed IL fortunate for
MN II ne had happened to be sufficiently cautious
20 have brought the aforesaid twists in his pocket.
Ihey seldom import these things at Fordham,
though they have an audacious way OF designating
tWists or Connecticut seed leaf "Partagas No. 10
which is very interesting, not TO say profitable, to
tcnths OF the public swear by the label OF a thing
regardless Of the fact that the label Is not always
times been labelled gentlemen TO whom the label
was a lbel. OF course some few protested,
be sold at twenty-five cents glass; but 10 protest
after the liquid had been swallowed was altogether
useless' and ,ne vender simply insisted upon his
very expensive in Fordham and could in no wise be
afforded at the New York tariff Az to the
injured on the voyage, and that they (the
sendersD ought not to be held responsible for their
goods having been soaked In salt water, one scrap OF
advice only need be offered-If you smoke put a
dozen Havanas in your pocket before you start in
Fordhsm, but on the route thither. Also your own
whskey; also other items pertaining TO the commits
cary department; also beware OF suffers as you
would OF the Sadducees, II Sadducees at the presen
day were In fashion.


These items OF advice for the private ear Of tn,
more agreeable features Of the afrair.


II Ia not TO be understood that the nrst day or tn


as eeg hss been nature ae % r,ce sss
opened with exceeding eclot, though with less thai
dstlnguished the spring meeting last year Fashion





yesterday; Fashion thioaged the club house salon,
ana the club house balcony from one o'clocl
20 I'VE r. M; Fashion bossomed In spring color
Iioin the club compartment Of the main stand fel
every race Fashion ciapped her hands with fash
L"nho,e enthusiasm Fashion uppled Q little and
nrteu great deal IN the OF the day; Fashion
c.appen ner thf opera glass TO her eyes once oI
fwice and lsped splendid, isn'tw Ia the old fash
tonaDc way, though In way withal bespeaKing nc
very minute acquaintance with the good points Of
borse.


Ihe route thitber by way Of the PARK had ns,,n.,
tncden. nor accident nor other happening 10 enyeu
oi coGrse, at eleven O'Clock In the mornina FINN
avenue was I'm c0mm0tion. There was some dressino
and great deal OF over dressing and then Fssbion
stepped into her carriage and was driver
Eorthward by gentlemen 10 drab coats and
brass buttons, gentlemen In drab coata ena
brass buttons riding behind. Al arst elanc.
one would have declared that the vehicle In whicl
sade Fashion had been put under the protection Q
shree or four policemen; but, at second glance
would have been noted that the batons were wan,