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（with a conspicuous excise…plate； resembling the Collector's door…plate at a
turnpike）； that I； within it； loving the little lilac gloves； the winning little
bonnet； and the dear unknown…wearer with the golden hair； may wait by
her side for ever； to see a Great St。 Leger that shall never be run！'
Thursday morning。 After a tremendous night of crowding； shouting；
drinking…house expectoration； Gong…donkey； and correct cards。 Symptoms
of yesterday's gains in the way of drink； and of yesterday's losses in the
way of money； abundant。 Money…losses very great。 As usual； nobody
seems to have won； but； large losses and many losers are unquestionable
facts。 Both Lunatics and Keepers； in general very low。 Several of both
kinds look in at the chemist's while Mr。 Goodchild is making a purchase
there； to be 'picked up。' One red…eyed Lunatic； flushed； faded； and
disordered； enters hurriedly and cries savagely； 'Hond us a gloss of sal
volatile in wather； or soom dommed thing o' thot sart！' Faces at the
Betting Rooms very long； and a tendency to bite nails observable。
Keepers likewise given this morning to standing about solitary； with their
hands in their pockets； looking down at their boots as they fit them into
cracks of the pavement； and then looking up whistling and walking away。
Grand Alliance Circus out； in procession； buxom lady…member of Grand
Alliance； in crimson riding…habit； fresher to look at； even in her paint
under the day sky； than the cheeks of Lunatics or Keepers。 Spanish
Cavalier appears to have lost yesterday； and jingles his bossed bridle with
disgust； as if he were paying。 Reaction also apparent at the Guildhall
opposite； whence certain pickpockets come out handcuffed together； with
that peculiar walk which is never seen under any other circumstances … a
walk expressive of going to jail； game； but still of jails being in bad taste
and arbitrary； and how would YOU like it if it was you instead of me； as it
ought to be！ Mid…day。 Town filled as yesterday； but not so full； and
emptied as yesterday； but not so empty。 In the evening； Angel ordinary
where every Lunatic and Keeper has his modest daily meal of turtle；
venison； and wine； not so crowded as yesterday； and not so noisy。 At night；
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the theatre。 More abstracted faces in it than one ever sees at public
assemblies； such faces wearing an expression which strongly reminds Mr。
Goodchild of the boys at school who were 'going up next；' with their
arithmetic or mathematics。 These boys are； no doubt； going up to…
morrow with THEIR sums and figures。 Mr。 Palmer and Mr。 Thurtell in
the boxes O。 P。 Mr。 Thurtell and Mr。 Palmer in the boxes P。 S。 The firm
of Thurtell； Palmer； and Thurtell； in the boxes Centre。 A most odious
tendency observable in these distinguished gentlemen to put vile
constructions on sufficiently innocent phrases in the play； and then to
applaud them in a Satyr…like manner。 Behind Mr。 Goodchild； with a
party of other Lunatics and one Keeper； the express incarnation of the
thing called a 'gent。' A gentleman born； a gent manufactured。 A
something with a scarf round its neck； and a slipshod speech issuing from
behind the scarf； more depraved； more foolish； more ignorant； more
unable to believe in any noble or good thing of any kind； than the stupidest
Bosjesman。 The thing is but a boy in years； and is addled with drink。
To do its company justice； even its company is ashamed of it； as it drawls
its slang criticisms on the representation； and inflames Mr。 Goodchild with
a burning ardour to fling it into the pit。 Its remarks are so horrible； that
Mr。 Goodchild； for the moment； even doubts whether that IS a wholesome
Art； which sets women apart on a high floor before such a thing as this；
though as good as its own sisters； or its own mother … whom Heaven
forgive for bringing it into the world！ But； the consideration that a low
nature must make a low world of its own to live in； whatever the real
materials； or it could no more exist than any of us could without the sense
of touch； brings Mr。 Goodchild to reason： the rather； because the thing
soon drops its downy chin upon its scarf； and slobbers itself asleep。
Friday Morning。 Early fights。 Gong…donkey； and correct cards。
Again； a great set towards the races； though not so great a set as on
Wednesday。 Much packing going on too； upstairs at the gun… smith's； the
wax…chandler's； and the serious stationer's； for there will be a heavy drift
of Lunatics and Keepers to London by the afternoon train。 The course as
pretty as ever； the great pincushion as like a pincushion； but not nearly so
full of pins； whole rows of pins wanting。 On the great event of the day；
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both Lunatics and Keepers become inspired with rage； and there is a
violent scuffling； and a rushing at the losing jockey； and an emergence of
the said jockey from a swaying and menacing crowd； protected by friends；
and looking the worse for wear； which is a rough proceeding； though
animating to see from a pleasant distance。 After the great event； rills begin
to flow from the pincushion towards the railroad； the rills swell into rivers；
the rivers soon unite into a lake。 The lake floats Mr。 Goodchild into
Doncaster； past the Itinerant personage in black； by the way…side telling
him from the vantage ground of a legibly printed placard on a pole that for
all these things the Lord will bring him to judgment。 No turtle and
venison ordinary this evening； that is all over。 No Betting at the rooms；
nothing there but the plants in pots； which have； all the week； been stood
about the entry to give it an innocent appearance； and which have sorely
sickened by this time。
Saturday。 Mr。 Idle wishes to know at breakfast； what were those
dreadful groanings in his bedroom doorway in the night？ Mr。 Goodchild
answers； Nightmare。 Mr。 Idle repels the calumny； and calls the waiter。
The Angel is very sorry … had intended to explain； but you see； gentlemen；
there was a gentleman dined down… stairs with two more； and he had lost a
deal of money； and he would drink a deal of wine； and in the night he 'took
the horrors；' and got up； and as his friends could do nothing with him he
laid himself down and groaned at Mr。 Idle's door。 'And he DID groan
there；' Mr。 Idle says； 'and you will please to imagine me inside； 〃taking the
horrors〃 too！'
So far； the picture of Doncaster on the occasion of its great sporting
anniversary； offers probably a general representation of the social
condition of the town； in the past as well as in the present time。 The sole
local phenomenon of the current year； which may be considered as
entirely unprecedented in its way； and which certainly claims； on that
account； some slight share of notice； consists in the actual existence of one
remarkable individual； who is sojourning in Doncaster； and who； neither
directly nor indirectly； has anything at all to do； in any capacity whatever；
with the racing amusements of the week。 Ranging throughout the entire
crowd that fills the town； and including the inhabitants as well as the
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visitors； nobody is to be found altogether disconnected with the business
of the day； excepting this one unparalleled man。 He does not bet on the
races； like the sporting men。 He does not assist the races； like the
jockeys； starter