There was some very heavy booking last night at Euston, and Puffing Billy the Second was greatly fancied. He has much finer action and bigger barrel than his famous sire, not to mention being several hands higher. It is to be hoped that he will not turn out a roarer, like the latter.
There are dark rumours abroad that the King's Cross favourite has been got at. She was in the pink of condition two days ago; but when I saw her pass at Peterborough to-day, she was decidedly touched in the wind. The way she laboured along was positively distressing. Besides, she was sweating and steaming all over.
I will wire my prophecies for to-day as soon as I know the results.
[Illustration: "THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST."
_Hackney_ (_to Shire Horse_). "LOOK HERE, FRIEND DOBBIN, I'LL BE SHOD IF THEY WON'T DO AWAY WITH US ALTOGETHER SOME OF THESE DAYS!"]
AFTER THE PROCESSION. A SOLO BY GRAND-PÈRE.]
(_After Wordsworth's "Character of the Happy Warrior."_)
[Sir JOHN BRIDGE, at Bow Street, bidding farewell to Detective-Sergeant PARTRIDGE, retiring after thirty years' service, described the virtues of the perfect policeman. He must be "absolutely without fear," "gentle and mild in manner," and utterly free from "swagger," &c., &c.]
Whom every Man in Blue should wish to be?
--It is the placid spirit, who, when brought
Near drunken men, and females who have fought,
Surveys them with a glance of sober thought;
Whose calm endeavours check the nascent fight,
And "clears the road" from watchers fierce and tight.
Who, doomed to tramp the slums in cold or rain,
Or put tremendous traffic in right train,
_Does_ it, with plucky heart and a cool brain;
Which is our human nature's highest dower;
Controls crowds, roughs subdues, outwitteth thieves,
Comforts lost kids, yet ne'er a tip receives
For objects which he would not care to state.
Though skilful with his fists, of patience sure , And menaced much, still able to endure.
--'Tis he who is Law's vassal; who depends
Upon that Law as freedom's best of friends;
Whence, in the streets where men are tempted still By fine superfluous pubs to swig and swill
The Perfect Bobby brings cool reason's test
To shocks and shindies, and street-blocking shows;
Men argue, women wrangle,--Bobby _knows_!