GILES AT THE CITY AND SUBURBAN.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9143, 29 June 1895, Page 9

GILES AT THE CITY AND SUBURBAN.

By an Observer,

He was faultlessly got up so far as his country notions went, and when I saw him pass the barrier at London Bridge Station I at once wrote him down as a " fly flat," a term which most men of the world will understand. Like many countrymen he effervesced with genial good nature towards his fellow men. He boasted in the carriage that the whole gang of sharps usually found on racecourses might take him on, but they would not: get any change out of him.. He seemed to be on the best of terms with himself, and mankind in general, and when some guileless gentleman in the carriage invited him to try and pick the queen out of three cards he did it in such an unsophisticated manner that the "Monty" men were hugging themselves with joy in anticipation of a golden harvest. Still, as he had slightly turned down the corner of the winning card, he did not loie a great deal so long as he played. When the " merchants " changed the cards he took no more interest in the play, but seemed particularly interested in the country through which we were passing. The river Wandle, which follows the line for some distance, soemed especially attractive to him, and the interest he took in the old village of Sutton -was only equalled by hla admiration for the pretty nurse girls in charge of the children who stand in rows by the side of the line and catch the coppers of the charitable. At the first glimpse of the Downs he was enthusiastic, and his interest grew as we neared the Downs Station.

Everybody who knows the Downs Station at Epsom knows that there is a most tempting refreshment buffet there which occupies a very large slice of the platform. Except those who never hunger nor thirat, the passengers by the various •' specials " generally spend a few minutes at this bar. On this particular occasion one of the visitors to the bar was a man about forty-five years of age, of highly respectable appearance. The most notable feature about him was that he wore his [ hair very long, and his beard w»9 ragged and weedy. Looking at him casually you would set blm down as a member of some learned society—possibly " microscopist," or a member of a society of antique research. Giles seemed to take a particularly keen interest in this man. He appeared to be fascinated with the length of his hair, or tbe cut of his clothes, it was impossible to say which, but he never left his side. The man finished his sandwiches, drank his beer, left the station, and struck across the path which runs parallel with the carriage road and emerges at the back of the grand stand. Ha stopped to put a penny in the hat of "blind Joe"—the Rough Rider Gents, the rough rider. No one seems to have the faintest Idea what a rough rider may bs, or why, because a man was a rough rider, he should appeal to public charity. Certain it is, however, that the benevolent looking gentleman with the buxom wife ased to net a goodly few of the spare coppers which are generally flying about at race meetings* Further on, the learned-looking gentleman saw a couple of sailors without legs—one of them as fat as a capon—vigorously grinding out " Cheer, boys, cheer," upon a barrel organ. Here once again he bestowed his charity, and our Iriend Giles did likewise. At last the grand stand was reached. As everyone who has been a frequent visitor to the Downs knows, there is a narrow passage between this and tbe adjoining stand which leads on to the course. Immediately preceding each race there is always an ugly rush through this narrow passage, and each knowing one carefully buttons up his coat before essaying the journey. The man with the long hair went into the vortex, and the innocent countryman Gilos followed in his footsteps, but, curiously enough, when we all shot out on to the course like water out of a spout, I could I see Giles of the loud voice, but I could not I see the man with the long hair. I noticed, however, that Giles seemed to have lost a good deal of the innocent countryman style, and that he wore a worried look. Then I went about my particular business and lost sight of the loquacious countryman. My business was with a certain coach drawn up by tbe side of the track on the hill, where busy serving men carved cold ribs of lamb, mixed dainty lobster salads, and opened bulging bottles which sang a lordly *• Pop " when the corks came out. A band of nigger minstrels —the breed is growing smaller by degrees and beautifully less—came up. I could not have sworn it, but if ray loquacious friend Giles was not one of those darkies I was greatly mistaken. Tha whole troupe sang and played well, bat they did not stay and hunt about the coach to get the last copper, like the general breed of burnt cork artists. Races were run, and the masses surged to and fro on the course, the roar of applause when the magic words "They're offl" were uttered waa succeeded by suppressed excitement, and a atill louder roar as the struggling horses, racing neck and neck, came to the outside line of the stand and rings. The excitement died out, and the niggers, and dancers, fortune-tellers, clarionette players, and others who sought the public coppers came alongside once again. " Outside" —very much outside —bookmakers came up alongside the coach and offered to lay fair odds to any gentleman sportingly inclined. A lot of chaff was ex changed between the occupants ot the j coach and these accommodating financier. In the middle of it the proceedings were diversified by a row proceeding between two booths some distance away.

It does not take long to gather a crowd on Epsom Downs at a race meeting, and a large crowd speedily gathered in this case. From the top of the coach I could make out two figures struggling gamely. One was dressed in the guise of a nigger, the other was a smooth faced man of respectable appearance. The crowd cried " shame" on the nigger, who was holding the respectable man in a grip of iron. Several policemen came upon the scene, and made a rush for the combatants. One gave the nigger an ugly bash under his ear, which made him lose bit hold of the

respectable man. He wft«i then hustled and banged about for several minutes, until he managed to utter a word or two in the ear of the policeman. Then the whole ot that Bobby's movements changed. He released his firasp of the nigger, and spoke to him. This is wbaS the nigger replied, " You infernal fool! I am a detective from , and you have let go one of the greatest scoundrels unhung. I have followed up here, but he spotted mc, and changed hi*, disguise. Look there!" and he to a wig of long hair on the groucd. Bit the owner of the wi-r had gone, arid Giles sought him in vain.—if an cf the World.