The Derby

Ladies in the latest spring creations. . . . Men in morning clothes, white spats. . . . Bookies roaring raucously the odds. . . . The Derby.

In the grandstands arose a hubbub. Individually, each sound was intelligible; collectively, they were like the jabbering of so many apes.

"They're off!" shouted a thousand voices in unison.

Silence fell, to be punctuated now and again by an encouraging cheer. Binocularless women plagued their staring escorts for information. There were some eager "Yesses" and some hesitant "No-o-oes." Excitement grew as the thunder of hoofs approached. Manna romped home the winner and, as usual, there were more white than flushed faces; for rarely does a Derby favorite romp fast enough.

Fortunes exchanged hands. One James Carew, shipping clerk of Liverpool, won the Calcutta Sweepstake,** amounting to $365,000. As he had sold two quarter shares in his ticket for about $25,000, his net gain was only about $207,000, but enough to provide James Carew with a thrill.

** The Calcutta Sweepstake is got up by the Calcutta Turf Club. Tickets are not supposed to be sold to nonmembers, but--they always are.