THE MELBOURNE CUP PROBLEM.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 408, 5 October 1889, Page 3

THE MELBOURNE CUP PROBLEM.

I have had many yarns related to me (writes "Plenipo") concerning the extraordinary manner in which some people select; winners of big races months before they take place. Dreams are now too common for any notice to bo taken of them, but I think the following little anecdote — for the truth of which I can vouch — absolutely "takes the cake." A young Scotchman, only recently arrived from "Caledonia stern," etc., has only a very limited knowledge of Australian racing, and so got a friend of his togive him the^pecially selected names of 13 horse? for the big event to come off in November. Scotty next procured a clutch of 13 eggs, and on them wrote the names of 13 horses, then setting them under a hen. In due time came the' hatching, and Scotty became interested to an extraordinary degree. An examination showed that there were 12 chicks duly hatched, and then Scotia's son rubbed his optics, put on hip spectacles, and proceeded to investigate the thirteenth egg. Ho found that this egg had. written upon it the woY&,2 f radilion, and thatithis egg was not bad but contained a dead bird. Ho now is selecting all his old clothes, and anything else he, can gather up that will bring in 11 bawbees" in order to put upon this dead bird for the next Melbourne Cup. This is, , I think, about the best story of " counting: your chickens before they are hatched " that 1 have heard, and especially as 13 is considered the unlucky or "devil's own" number. '