[Footnote 4:  We hope none of our readers will labor under the impression that we look upon the above effusion as a poetical one, but, in this day of many isms, it may happen that the above style may become prevalent, and we think it our duty to present everything that is new.  EDS.]

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2.02 TO HARNESS.

Mr. Punchinello on the Turf.

History relates that the era of Horse-racing commenced about the year 680 B. C., but it was some time after that when Mr. PUNCHINELLO made his debut as a candidate for the honors of the turf.  To put the matter more concisely, it is just six days since he drove his horse “Creeping Peter” on the track at Monmouth Park, Long Branch.  The only object which Mr. P. had in view, when he purchased his celebrated trotter and put him into training, was the improvement of the breed of American horses.  While our BONNERS, VANDERBILTS and GRANTS are devoting all their surplus time and means to this great end, Mr. P., in placing the name of his yellow horse in the hands of the poolseller, would scorn to have a less noble aim.

But this great object need not interfere with others of less importance, and therefore Mr. P. will not deny that, after having exhibited to his friends and the sporting fraternity in general, his little investment in fancy horseflesh, he made up a very satisfactory betting-book.

Now Mr. P. believed,—­and events proved him to be correct,—­that when his friends and the sporting fraternity saw his horse, they would bet heavily against him.  Mr. P., however, in all the pride of amateur ownership, bet quite as heavily upon his noble steed.  His friends and the above-mentioned fraternity chuckled and winked behind his back, but although Mr. P. heard them chuckle and knew that they were winking, his belief in his final success never wavered.  Any ordinary observer might be expected to remark that Creeping Peter was not entirely without blemish.  Besides being spavined and having three of his hoofs injured by sand-crack, he had poll-evil, fistulas, malanders, ring-bone, capped hock, curb, splint, and several other maladies which made him a very suitable horse for the general public to bet against.

But Mr. P.’s courage never quailed!

When he made his appearance on the track (for he drove his horse himself) he was the object of general attention.  The following view (from a photograph by ROCKWOOD) gives an excellent idea of the horse and driver.

[Illustration]

Nearly everybody on the ground advised Mr. P. to leave his cloth in the stable, for it would certainly interfere with the speed of his horse and probably get wrapped up in the wheels and cause an accident.  But Mr. P. would listen to nothing of the sort.  He told everybody that he wasn’t going to catch cold in his knees, even if he lost the race, and that he was perfectly willing to run the risk of accidents.