LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2211, 28 March 1881, Page 3

LITERATURE.

AN AUSTRALIAN “NEW CHUM.”

Racing in Australia is very different to what it is in England—leastways it was so when I was there some twenty years ago—but, no doubt, with Increasing civilisation and settlement, and the establishment of recognised Melbourne and New South Wales Jock- y Clubs the turf has, judging by reports in the pnblio press, made at the antipodes vast and rapid strides. The circumstances I am about to relate happened, as nearly as my memory permits me to state, in 1800 I was a younger son of a good county family, hailing not a hundred miles from the ancient city of Chester, and I had gone through the usual routine of a youngster’s entrance into life. My father had>ent me to Harrow, and from thence 1 was transmigrated to the classic shades of Isis. At Oxford, sport, rather than learning, attracted my attention. I was a fair all-round cricketer, had, eo my chums said, a capital seat, could tool a tandem as well as the majority of my fast compeers, held my own at billiards or pyramids, hnd, in fact, excelled in everything except the special cue of learning ; in classics or mathematics I was a positive dnnce. I hsted o njugation—amo, amas, was emblematical of horrors, and the ‘ asses bridge” a stumbling-block to my dense brain. Writing truthfully, I ran np a huge stock of college debts, which my indulgent pater paid for me, on the proviso that I should, with such patrimony as was my share, seek in pastures far and fresh to scatter my wild oafs, and finally settle down. Australia then held out promising allurements for youngsters with cash. My governor, through his agents, purchased f. r me *a sheep run’ in New South Wales, or rather a partnership in one with an old Scotch friend of his, who had prospered there, as Scotchmen are wont to prosper, and the antipodes was destined for my future home. The good ship Great Britain, then the largest steamer afloat, and a favorite passenger vessel from Liverpool to Melbourne, was chosen for my passage, and, full of hope, I started from the land of my birth for the land of my adoption. Our voyage out was a pleasant but uneventful one. Captain Gray was the embodiment of a popular captain, and the saloon passengers joyously during their sixty days’ run passed their time principa'ly in eating, drinking, oard-playing, flirting, and sleeping—of card-playing and flirting I had my share. 1 became initiated into the intellectual colonial game of euoro, and dropped my coin thereat with commendable rapidity whereas, in respect to flirting, I believe I made love, more or less, to every marriageable and nnmarriageable female on board that had any pretention to youth and beauty. Port Phillip Head was duly reached, and Melbourne I found a jolly place, full of life and devilment. 1 had any number of letters of introduction, none of which I used ; fortunately, being a member of the Oarlton, in England, I had ■ the entree to the Melbourne Club, and there I met the cream of Australian society, * the jolly doga ’ of colonial life, including two esteemed former University pals. Captains Standish and Soott, both racing men, to the manner born, nnd I w&a not long in participating in Turf life abroad in a far more substantial way than I bad dabbled in it in England. My station, or rather the one In which a partnership had been purchased for me, was in the Riverine district of New South Wales, about three hundred miles north of Melbourne. I found a squatter’s life in the bush somewhat monotonous, and my partner a querulous, grumbling, hard nail species of canny Scot, who had gladly received my patrimony for partnership, but looked upon me as a ‘new ohum,’ whom be had ‘milked,’ and had as a set-off to 'nourish ’ Wsgga Wagga was our nearest township, some sixty miles distant ; when suffering from ennui thither I would repair, and indulge in billiards, 100, and liquoring up with other more congenial spirts than old Sandy MaoTavisb, my partner, whose only enjoyments in life were grumbling, money-grubbing, snuff-taking, toddy drinking, and a black aboriginal female, npon whom Sandy in moments of amatory exuberance lavished such addresses as his nature would allow. Wsgga Wagga in recent years, through the Claimant, has become a familiar name. In 1860 it was a small township consisting of a court-house, three or four hotels, a blacksmith’s shop, and two or three general stores; it was, however, the centre of a great ‘squatting’ district, and young ‘ squatters ’ like myself, with ample means, congregated there to kill time, dissipate, and spend money. Wagga Wagga held an annual race meeting, an event, and more money was run for at Wagga than at any np country meeting. The principal race was ' The Wagga Town Plate,’ open to all horses, weight for age, two miles. The two preceding years previous to my arrival in the district a certain Jonathan Boon, a sheep farmer from the Lachlan, had carried off not only this event, but also the Forced Handicap, with a horse belonging to him that was looked npon as almost invincible. The animal was called Falcon, and was a son of Pbyrrns the First, an English Derby winner. 1 had met this Jonathan Boon on two or three occasions at Wsgga Wagga, at the Australian Hotel, and had taken a great dislike to him; ho was a cunning looking, bumpuous brute, wrapped up in bis idea of bis own superiority, aud au undisguised contempt for interlopers or ‘new chums,’ such as behind my back I heard him describe me, ‘ Papsuckers, sent away from their mother's apron strings for their mother’s good. The term ‘ pap-sucker ’ stuck in my gizzard, and 1 determined, when opportunity offered, to administer to Master Jonathan a substantial dose of *pap.’ Wagga races took place in November, and the entries closed a fortnight prior to the day of running. It was some time towards the end of October that Jonathan, myself, and some others bad been making a night of it at pool and 100. Jonathan had won largely, and 1 had lost. He was more bonnoeable than ever. * Colonials, I reckon, cut their teeth rather sharper than yon new chum, gentlemen. How is it that no one is game enough to lay against Faloon for the Town Plate.” * Because,’ replied Rasohe of Cuba, ‘ you’ve got an English bred horse, and ours are colonial; blood will tell, Jonathan.’ This was a hard thrust at Boon, and he winced under it.

* English or colonial, I’ll bet any one a thousand pounds I win with Falcon, for the third time, the Town Flate and Forced Handicap. ’ ‘Done,’ I eaid, with forced coolness.

‘ Ho, ho! 00 it’s you, my gentleman, are going to clip Falcon's wings, perhaps with that noble specimen of a hack you rode into Wsgga so dandily with yesterday. But by Q ! I’ll keep yon to your bet. Gentlemen, take notice, Mr Dee Vccux has laid me an even thousand Falcon does not win the Town Plate and Forced Handicap this year. I book it.’

‘Precisely,’ I replied, and if you will lay 2000 to 1000 against my so doing, I will also take it.’

* A bet, by all that’s colonial,’ said Jona than.

Tho news of these stupendous bets spread far and near, and on the following morning I reflected that I had been rather rash. Jonathan had a good horse, I had none‘needs must when the devil drives.’ I started next morning for Melbourne, and tbenoe to Sydney, where I saw John Tsit, the great New South Wales racehorse owner. I had met him previously, and formed acquaintance with him at tho Melbourne Club. 1 explained the objeot of my visit, my bets, and that I wanted him to supply me with a hr-rse capable of beating Falcon. The simplest thing possible, my dear follow. Falcon ran last January, at Melbourne, second to The Pearl. The Pearl gave him 121 b, and beat him by a length. I have a three-year-old brother to The Pearl, called The Fearl, whom I have tried with The Pearl, and he is as good as him at even Weights. • When is the time for closing ?’ ‘November Ist.’

* Knter him in your came. Leave everything else to me. No one shall know anything. But on the day of tho race the horse shall be on the course fit and well, with Yeomans to ride him.’

I returned back to Wagga, entered Mr Des Vorax’s The Earl, three years oil. The race day arrived, as did Yeomans the night before with “ The Earl.” Jonathan, very oocky, began to smell a rat when he learnt Yeomans, the celebrated jockey from .-yd ney, would ride the new-chum’s horse. '■ ho story of the race Is soon told. The Earl won in a canter, and I was congratulated on all sides. For the Forced Handicap The Earl was handicapped to give Falcon 211 b, John Tait had told mo I had 2Slb in hand—-

! this was drawing it rather fine if a mistake [ had been made—but John Tait was right, the three year old won again “all out ” by a length Jonathan Boon parted with hia “ three thou.” with bad grace, and to thi* day he sticks to a resolution he then made, “never to have any truck with new-chums again—the game is not worth the candle,”