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Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 74, 18 March 1914, Page 6

(Contrbuted.)

A visitor to Stratford last Easter was speaking with a friend the day after Easter Monday, and in the course, of conversation remarked to his friend, a prominent business man in the'town, that-he was puzzled to account for the cheering and other marks of approbation that lie had heard during Easter Monday. Ho had stayed in the town that day, and had played bowls. He described the noises he-had heard. About 11.30 a.m, ho heard loud shouts as of a crowd encouraging somebody, then a burst of cheering, followed by quietness. Ten minutes afterwards this cheering was repeated. The volume of sound was much greater now, as though the crowd had increased in numbers and the roar of voices was well nigh deafening. It resembled the appaling sound made by gigantic waves, hurled onward by a wind of hurricane force, and breaking upon a rock-hound and wreck-strewn shore. The speaker had taken part in the Boer War but had never heard such a concentrated burst of sound before. At intervals, during the afternoon, these loud outbursts occurred, and the bowler, as he said, was puzzled. He thought to himself that there were other sports at which one was able to find more enjoyment than what was found in bowling. He stopped playing and walked down the road a little way and met many tennis players, with their insignia of their sport with them,- hurrying along in the direction of the tumultuous outbursts. They had evidently arrived at the same conclusion as ho, that tennis must have very little enjoyment to offer one in comparison to what the cheering multitudes were participating in. He stopped at the corner of Broadway and beheld motor cyclists motoring at great speed towards the source of the cheering. After them he saw his bowler friends. They had hired a conveyance and were galloping, after the motor cyclists. Behind again were the lame, the halt, and the blind, in fact all those to whom a good laugh meant a temporary cessation of their worries and pains. He noticed that in the rush to join the aforementioned tumultuous' crowd, some of the lame and halt were actually recovering the use of their limbs to a marked degree. The mere suggestion of hilarity contained in the outbursts of cheering had worked its strengthening influence on their various ailments. The beholder was amazed and astounded. Had he not beheld this' marvel with his own eyes, he would have been completely mysti fied. He resisted no longer, but joined in with a beggar, who was a new man since be had joined the rush, and hurried along. The further they went, the greater was the crush. Out of town they swept, along a road bordered with trees on one side, and by the railway line on the other, and finally came to a halt at the Stratford showgrounds. Then the visitor understood. He had the privilege of visiting Stratford on the second day in the year on which the Stratford and surrounding residents really enjoy themselves. He had, in fact arrived at the Stratford Gymkhana, and at the end of that pleasant and enjoyable day, resolved unto himself that he would again visit Stratford next Easter Monday, 13th April, for its next Gymkhana. Ho circularised his friends to this effect: “All ye who .are suffering, who are blind, deaf, lame, or are physical or mental wrecks, go to the Stratford Gymkhana. It is a grand elliptical, asiatical, nervous cordial, and will cure all ailments to which humanity ! is heir.”