Year: 1869

flowing blue YellS permitted not bit OF Wnlte craVaU
to emerge from its snowy folds You could recognize


the Americans by their better dress and bold bear
ing. There were none who entered more jubilantly
into the spirit of the scene. Never there mer-
rier ring than the American parties had the good
fortune to fall in with. Some had come over from
Paris. some from Liverpool, some from Germany,
some from the lovely valleys of the Interior to share
in the sport of the day. One of most estimable
sons of the KnickerbOckers told me that he would
willingly cross the Atlantic in spite of seaslckness
and bad weather, to witness the mere sight OF the
common people of England in the enjoyment of their
annual holiday.


Everything conspired to make the occasion one of
unusual interest. Everything went off well. The
weather was superb. The prospect of rain which


threatened in the early part of the day had entirely
disappeared A soft wind from the southwest came
laden with the perfume of many blossoms, while the
rich green fields glistened with the morning dew.
The sun was slightly overcast with thin Clouds max


ing the temperature as agreeable as our finest days
of June or October. 1t was often remarked that it
was an American and not an English atmosphere.
The beauty of the landscape could not but temper
the impusive gayety of the people and give poeti-
cal aspect to their "homey joys" Nothing could be
more delightful than the drive Of twenty miles
through the verdant lanes of Surrey lined on each
side with the most luXuTiant hawthorn, and the
adjacent fields adorned with the stately English elm,
towering high in majestic isolation, or magnificent
groups of hoTse-chestnuts, which here expand their
foliage to a wide amplitude, forming spacious and
beautiful canopy down to within a few feet OF the
ground. How much the pleasure of our party was
enhanced by the vernal charm of English scenery
after resting the eye for many days only on the
dreary wastes of the ocean, may be readily imagined
by all who have experienced the delight of exchang
Il, c1a pf thp ark
Atlantic for the smiling verdure of the English land
scape.


The groups of happy faces resting along the road
side and converting the journey into perpetual pic
mic are among the most attractive features OF the
Derby Here an aged and wrinkled couple are
seated on the grass by the side of nondescrlpt
family cart, drawn by dwarfish donkey taking
their avOry luncheon of bread and cheese mostened
with temperate draughts of brown home-brewed ale
from jug more plethoric than their tiny beast OF
burden. On the other side of the way are the de-
scendants of John Rogers the blessed martyr; with
nine small children, and one at the breast" discuss
ing huge wheaton loaf and by no means attenu-
ated slices of genuine British bacon. with an appe-
tite to which the fresh country air has given
piouant zest Here is pair of rustic lovers laugh
ing in each others faces, and jogging in their
little ark as complacenty if the queer vehicle
were drawn by Juno's doves instead of ragged
pony. Then comes a carriage, not quito so long
perhaps as the deck of the Scotia, but hold
ing a countless bevy of country lasses, with
their rural swains dressed in all the colors of the
rainbow. and showing as odd picture of jolly con-
tent as was ever represented in a Dutch painting.
This is followed by tremendous turnout, with six
noble bays ridden by postillions with breechcs and
white tops seating halfdOzen ilashily-dressed
men, whose thoughts are more on the results OF the


RI IL Id La
carriage now comes along laden with two or three
stout. ruddy gentlemen, whose names are doubtless
potent on Change, and who seem almost to lament
the hours withdrawn from business and surrendered
to frolic On the top of that dashy omnibus shining
with yarnsh and new paint, the inside filed with
hampers of meats and wines enough to provision
troop Of soldiers, and drawn by tour high-stepping
white steeds caparisOned with festive adomments,
see party of old acquaintance from New-Iork and
Boston, as Jolly set of twelve good fellows ever
met at festival or holiday, enjoying themselves to
the top of their bent, coquettng with the buxom
damsels who had smiles to spare from their lovers
and brothers, and sharing their choice wines with
the clodhoppers who pressed upon them their hearty
bome-brewed in return.


If YOU intend to go to the Derby ncxt year, you
will have to get up early in the morning. Don't
stand for good breakfast, for you viii have to eat
more than you wish for before the day is over You
have engaged your conveyance several days before,
with hamper Of cold chicken, meat pie, lobster
salad. and other substantial edbes with the where
withal to moisten the clay after the dusty drive If
YOU do not mind expense, and not fastidious in
your drinks you viii pay high price for the sup
niles to Fortnum d Mason, Picadilly, who are the
fashionable purveyoTs for the day, and who annually
poison the patient British public with their detesta-
bio wines and indigestible meats. If possible 90
with party Of friends Of congenial tastes. On no
account. admit a stranger, who may prove damp and
disapreeable If you have mustered company OF
eight or ten You can take a drag an open carriage
with four horses or an omnibus from the top OF
which you can survey the scene to great advantage


the provisions being slowed in the hold), for which
YOU will have TO pay about $l2j in gold SAY from 20
TO 80 guineas. For an additional charge you can
have postillions and OutTiders, which Is re-
garded as the true thing by many open
handed Americans If you are more modesty
inclined, however, there is every variety OF vclce
from the decent twO-hOTse bTOugham, 10 the one
horse cab or hanson, for either OF which you must
| expect 10 pay pretty round sum- You can go WIN
much less expense i'm one of the public Onuibuscs,


by the railway lines which run TO the vicinity Of the
! grounds; but this | do not advise you lose the


humOTs OF the road which to most Of the spectators
are more attractive than the sight Of the race AS
| you probably will not attend the Derby more than


twice in your Lifetime, you had better 90 the
! whole figure regardless of expense. To those who


are not especially amateurs Of hOrse-lesh, and not


OveIfOnd OF losing their money by betting blind the


chief enjoyment of the day is the road more par
| ticularly on the return The rural population is


poured ont in countless numbers each side. Every


door and window Of the houses IS thrown open. You
| know everybody and everybody knows you. Such


godd-natuTed chai1ng such apeTpetual lrc OF Jokes


and repartees, such shots OF dry peas through pipe


such atiectiOnate demonstrations to all the world
and his wife, such entire devotion TO the genius
OF frOc which rules the hour suTpasses all the fun
| of Roman American Fourth