FLEMINGTON ON THE CUP DAY.

Evening Star, Issue 3669, 25 November 1874, Page 3

FLEMINGTON ON THE CUP DAY.

{From the Australasian.) Long before ten o’clock Melbourne was Alive with thousands of people on pleasure bent, and as early as nine o’clock the exodus pieman,' * the * rush ‘to the Spencer street railway station commencing at about half-past ten, from which hoar up to two o’clock the trains were pouring into Flemington with their living freight. The road, too, was largely patronised, and for hours one continuous line of vehicles, reaching from town to the course, occupied the road. Four-in-hand drags were greatly in vogue, and this particular style of vehicle attracted much attention. 'ln addition to the large numbers that journeyed by road and rail, some thousands found their way to the courge on foot. Ihe attendance was estimated l it 75,0(j6 persons, nearly 35,000 of this number being conveyed to the course by rail. Never since racing was initiated in Australia did the grand stand enclosure present such an appearance as it did that day. It is not within the province of a sporting writer to “gush” over the beauties of the lawn, but it is impossible to deny that the gpepe op the grass plot in front of the stand surpassed everything we had witnessed before. The dresses were of the most gorgeous description. Light blue, lavender, and pink predominated, and as the beautifully-ap-parelled ladies took up their positions just previous to the Cup, the effect was charming indeed. So great was the attendance in the enclosure that it was impossible to find room - for one-half of those desirous of getting a seat, or even a standing place, the staircases and corridor beng crowded to excess. The hill was just as densely packed, and for half a mile down each side of the straight thick crowds of people lined the rads, Jt would be impossible to describe the scene that presented itself when the note of preparation for the great race ♦as sounded. The stand Was fall to repletion, hundreds being unable to obtain even standing room, and the lawn and terrace were crowded with beautifullydressed ladies attended by their esquires. The hill was one dense mass of heads, and far away down to the starting point thousands of excited spectators lined the rails; but it was in the saddling paddock that the scene surpassed everything that had preceded it at Flemington, for this portion of the enclosure was closely packed with members of the sterner sex, anxious to get a glimpse at the different favorites. When more railways are completed, the influx of visitors to Melbourne during the Cup week will be greater than ever. If the next Cup day is fine, we shall expect to witness a crowd of a hundred thousand persons—A crowd from all parts of Australasia : from New South Wahs, Queeensland, Tasmania, South Australia, New Zealand, and even Fiji. There is nothing to be seen like it out of Great Britain, and even Goodwood and Ascot must in certain respects give way to Flemingtoh on the Cup day in the matter of the weather. There bae never bison a wet Cojjdajfv

The lawn is the rallying point of beauty ard fishion ou the Cup day. Here the c rente de la creme of Colonial society assembles, and the upper ten is observed in all its glory. To the ladies especially it is endeared, as it not only affords them the felicity of seeing, but the more exquisite pleasure of being seen. The display of toilettes was of course the main feature of toe lawn. Some of these were really superb. The prevailing colors were blue and violet, the material mostly ©f silk or moire, made en train. 'ihe absence of lighter descriptions of attire was attributable, probably, to the gloomy aspect of the weather in the earlier part of the day. Mrs St. John, daughter of Lady Robinson, wore a very striking dress of violet corded silk, with puffed skirt, richly trimmed with gold cilored satin ; bonnet and parasol to match. Amongst the most conspicuous toilettes might be mentioned a bright blue silk with overskirt and sash of the brightest canary color ; a dress of pale apple silk, richly trimmed with black velvet ribbon and trained skirt was also very effective. For style, perhaps, a pale blue de nuage satin, trimmed with silk, was unequalled. Perhaps the handsomest d>ess on the lawn was worn by a young lady, and consisted of a rich blue silk, trimmed with bands of the palest blue satin, edged with Maltese lace. Another remarkable toi'ette, and one that was evidently admired, was a rose-colored silk, the front covered with white muslin puffings, and profusely trimmed with black velvet ribbon.