AT THE GYMKHANA.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 165, 6 April 1908, Page 4

AT THE GYMKHANA.

SOME IMPRESSIONS.(By " Wi Makibika.") "When I was in India," said Jhcol, aa lis reached for my matches, "I playod polo." "When you were in Africa, I observed, "you shot Boers, and before that, in Australia, you- held- up some desperadoes. Verily, / thou art a wonderful man. Tell me,- I prithee, what all this means,", and I waved my arm comprehensively.: "This," he- replied, "is a polo gymkhana. When I was in India " . . "Never mind India —this is Miramar. What's a gymkhana: vou who have been in India?" "A gymkhana? Well, a gymkhana is " a sort of circus-polo—a good race or.'two; i needles and thread, kerosene tins and night-, ! shirts; tho smart set in', the foreground; bookmakers, ponies, aud players, in the; middle distance, and the mere public—who are, not tho background. See?" : I saw. Chaltana strolled up, borrowed a match, and said, hoarsely. "On the Ladies' Bracelet I have a double. , "Sit down and listen," I said. "Jhool'fl been in India; and has even played polo." Chaltana gazed jespectfully at Jhool, and then."sat. down..'" "It takes money to play polo," saidlhooL "A man wants three or-four ponies—more, . if ho can' afford it—a boy or two; and a motor-car. It's infra dig. to ride tp a ma,tch, in this or any other country, and a tramcar's plebeian. You can't tell me this, is a democratic.,country." ' . ' ! "They're going .to "make, a start," said Chaltana, as four of . tho polo inen trotted out. It was the first-heat for the polo-ball race. This was- exhilarating sport. Each player was given a ball—-each ball being col- ■ oured differently, white,'' yellow, blue, and • red. The balls were laid 1 in a row at tho' goal; and at a given signal each man. hit his ball in the directidn of the turning post, about 250 yards away,, rounded it, awlJjomo again. It sounds easy—but it isn't. In tho excitement of the raco a player may miss the ball, or swipe "it■ in-among the crowd, in which case it is*-"devil take'tho .hindmost," for a, polo pony is not , afraid of a crowd. Or a man may have a successful gallop to, tho post and backhand miss the goal with his last shot; then;,follows a mad plungo into the crowd behind the goal, and somo tricky' manoeuvring, during which tho rest of the field comes thundering up, and the fun becomes last and ' furious. "When I was in India——" "Let's stroll round^and-look at things,"-: I said, hastily ; and we strolled. ... :. Presently we:fell in with Amos. s:Those. who have not met- Amos have notiilivcd.Amos has: a small camera, Which he skies on thrpe, long legs,, and. his speciality- is;r"im- ' pressions.,, .Amos-is, nothing if not. ar-; tistic. Having capitulated to his-eloquence, wo prepare to bo "snapped."--, "Now-,gen-; tlemen, I must havo sca and- skjfrrrun away,'"you boys, this is a philosophic dissertationbeyond your •, years—yes, sea ■ and . sty." . There is no. sea, but that is his playful '.way. . Then lie presses tho bulb, throws, his .hat : .in- tho air, and exclaims, ecstatically,': "Itja all .over, gentlemen, ' and tho , name,' -js— .'Distinguished Visitors'; thank'.you-,.'gcntli>,.' , men." : "Old Amos is. as funny as a wot .hen," \ observes Jliool. - -v.l-, ■ ■ Wo moved on. v"Even money on Ginger!, !Thrce tp.6nb 1 Jemima! Three to one Jemima! 1 have.'a,: little-double here, gentlemen—a nici); little'/ double.",., The "bookies" aro: busy.;;;,-,.'/; 5 ., ' "On the Ladies' Bracelet.l havo'a: doublo,'?whispered .Chaltana. . "So you said before,". I observed coldly, We strolled on:' It w:as a gay scene.' Tls>. grandstand, was full, of well-dressed !-peoplef'' Spurrefl and legginged polo players,, arrayed'' for, the nonce in silk racing jackets, stalked:, here and there., Thei;?was, 110 hurry.. Thepolo people .were-not but to cater for the.public,.'and tho starting-time, although it / figured en tho programme, was more- honoured in the breach than in the obsorvanco.The "Needle-and-thread race','.provided some excitement.'' r; -The:'contestants l stood' at '.their ' ■ ponies'; heads, and 011 the word go ran ten yards to; tlio; rear, waited impatiently, " for their fair ladies to thread their- necdlqs.- for them, then raced..haclc-.to.tho. ponies, flung themselves., acrpGs- the.:saddles;• and- : bolted helter-skelter down tho, sixty-yards' course to the ; turning-post. -.'A' ivild scramble round the'post, during.'which the seats of soriie of,, tho riders became 7 somewhat precarious,, then a mad, gallop.;babk .again' finished .the' race. The burlesque events attracted more interest thaii'-'tlie more classic Cup raco and hurdle., race.' -,-- '.. ■ ■ : ' ' ; ' .'• A . most grotesque incident-was tho kero-' sene-tiu and night-shirt race. The competitors raced on foot to a lino of keroseno tins, hastily plumped six stones therein, and raced to their . poriieS with tho tins, mounted, and galloped' sixty'yards, where night-shirts were waiting for them.'' Tlicso wero.hastily don- ! ned, the disgusted ponies were re-mounted, arid, like a squadron of sheeted.spectres, the contestants, hanging on to their rattling tins, thundered, home;, their night-shirts fluttering iri the wind. ■' ', ' V .