Sydney and the Cup Race.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 225, 22 November 1888, Page 3

Sydney and the Cup Race.

(FBOM OUB OW? COBRESPONDENT J Sydney, Nov, 9. For a very considerable taction of the community there has been only one event during the week, and that ia not a Sydney one. The Melbourne Cup has claimed its full quota of devotees. About half our legislators and nearly all our fashionables, with not a few journalists, and with pretty neatly ill the rank and file who can afford it, have rendered themselves to the tender mercies of the Mel bourne hotelkeeper. As to the motives which have led them there, it would puzzle many of them to define them. Some see in the Cup an opportunity for swindling, some an opportunity for unrestricted gambling, some for display, and some attend in slavish to the imperious mandate of With some the Cup means business, to &rme it. means predacity, and to some, perhaps the largest contingent of all, for pleasure, pure and simple. As usual, the moralists are severe in their denunciations. And too much ground may be found for their diatribes in the misery which is wrought by gamb ing and extravagance at these great carnivals. But that they have a root in human nature is evidenced by the fascination which they exercise. How the instinct from which they derive their strength can be trained to the pursuit and enjoyment of more truly human gratifications is the profa'ea which our Mentors should set themselv s to aolve. And, so tar, I am bound to confess, they have made very little progress in this direction. There is some little satisfaction to be found in the fact that the sporting scribes lament the falling-off of “ interest ” in the event. Translated into plain English, this means that “ lambs ” are getting tired of being •• skinned,” and that there is not so much wagering as formerly. Perhaps this is the reason why the public have been allowed to win, the race having been “ pulled oft" by * hot favorite. Favorite or outsider, it is equally bad. When an outsider wine, a great heap of money goes into the pockets of the “ bookmakers "—one of the most villanous occupations extant, and one which numbers in its ranks some of tbe greatest scoundrels unhung. When a favorite wins, the poor deluded punters, who for once are allowed to land the stakes, are encouraged to plunge ■till more heavily and recklessly.