Transcription
W New York, wishing you a happy new year and reminding you to please drive carefully.
Next, Jean Shepard and at midnight all night with Windgate. [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music]
Uh, let's see here. Uh, 8:00 p.m. Uh, Adam 12. Uh, Officer Reed, this is a this is a summary of the plot of a typical television show. Yeah. Boy, we got fantastic intellectual uh weight in many of our shows. He knows that and deep really involving plots. 8:00 p.m. Channel 4, Adam 12. Okay. What was the What was the story about that night? This is go by the way this is going into my vast file of trivia so that uh uh 500 years from now when they find it in my time capsule of the period they will know what life was really like in our time. Okay. Adam 12. And there millions of people watch that show. Right. That's like one of the top 10, isn't it? Right. Okay. Adam 12. Millions of people watch this exciting show. Officer Reed is kitted by his friend Officer Malloy. about his squeaky shoes. Martin Mililder and Kent McCord star. Did you hear what I said? That's the show. And uh according to my correspondent, he says, "I just about read about split of gut when I read this exciting preview for Adam 12." He says, "The funniest part is it was true. That was the whole plot." He says, "I wonder how much it cost him to make this 30 minute clinker. Two guys sitting around kidding each other about their squeaky shoes."
Well, uh, but you know, that's a that's a that's the kind of stuff I think that stands right up there with KJack, with Banichek, all these other great heavyweight things. You know, speaking of heavyweight things, I I uh I'm going to do a heavyweight type show tonight, and I've been I've been absolutely uh threatening to do this for some time, and I'm going to do it tonight. My god, I've been I've been putting it off. This is one of my prized possessions. If you're looking carefully at this, I'm holding it up before the camera here. It's one of my prized possessions. And uh I would part with a lot of other things before I part with this. Now, it doesn't look like much, does it? Well, it does look like it might be pretty sneakily expensive, doesn't it? Yes, indeed. Well, all right. I'm going to uh ask you a a direct question here tonight. This is a literary show this night, and I want you to listen carefully. Here we have it. uh question who is generally considered to be now I'm not going back to the ancient Greeks who wrote about the Olympics or something or wrote a poem about the uh a discus thrower who is generally considered to be one of the very first professional that's all he did really professional sports writers in the English-speaking world the very First, you know, the the history of literature is very interesting. Uh they can almost pinpoint the first novelist, the first person who sat down and wrote a uh what we would call a novel. He, you know, with chapters with a story that developed from chapter to chapter with fictitious characters. Uh that that was a first. Who who wrote the first generally credited with being the first true novel? And what was the name of the novel?
All right. Uh the the drama theory the drama uh type uh writing dramatic writing is much older. You know the the dramatic writing goes back uh many many many uh years thousands in fact to the Greeks. The dramatic form of writing the novel is a comparatively recent development. Uh who was the first? Can you imagine the first person who actually wrote the first poem? Of course, he's lost in uh prehistory, but there must have been somebody who wrote the first poem who all of a sudden says, "Hey, that sounds pretty good. Uh uh violets are blue." Uh and he says, "Yeah, that's great. I'll write that down."
Well, uh the the first sports writer, there's a lot of argument about it, but this guy's generally credited with being one of the first ones. And how do I know about him? Well, a very interesting thing happened to me. Uh if you spend any time looking in and about the old books in uh bookstores down in uh the lower part of Manhattan here, you can find some fantastic things. Well, a reader, a listener type, sent me this book, which he found, by the way, not on on the bookstores down in lower Manhattan. But it was found in his grandfather's attic. And it's a small book. It's about Oh, I'd say it's really a small book. It's not much. It's actually a little smaller than today's paperback, wouldn't you say? You know, the regular paperback novel that you buy at the bus station. It's about that size physically, but it's covered with a leather cover, a brown leather cover. It's kind of battered, but it's still very good. It's solid and it's uh it's a little gold embossed on the back of it. You can see what's left of the gold embossed. The only thing that sets it apart from a lot of other little books that you'll find around is that it was printed in the year, are you ready for this? 1823. That's it. This is not a reprint. This is the real thing. Was printed in 1823, which makes it 150 years old. That's an old book. 150 years old. I wonder how many people read it in the time that it's been alive. It's been on this earth. 150 years old, this book. And uh you you don't see many books. And it's in great condition. It's readable. It's in terrific condition. And uh it's all here. There's nothing nothing been lost. And uh it's uh it's in fact even the index is here. And what is it called? It's called sporting antidotes or rather anecdotes. Excuse me. Sporting anecdotes. This is I'm reading the title page for you. Sporting anecdotes. And then underneath it, it's in parenthesis it says original and selected including numerous characteristic portraits of and this is in big letters persons in every walk of life. Now, remember when this was printed? 1823. And it was printed uh well, figured out how long before the Civil War was that 1823. That's almost 50 years before the Civil War. And Lincoln uh in fact Lincoln at that point, was Lincoln Yes, Lincoln was around, of course, alive, but he was just a kid at that time. Or was he? I don't know. When was Lincoln born? He was born about that time. Couldn't have been before or after, but right about that time. And uh who was president at the time that this was written? 1823. How old was the country at that time? Figure it out. That's very interesting. This is an old old book.
Now uh you want to hear more about it. It says persons in numerous characteristic portraits of every of persons in every walk of life. Now underneath it in smaller type it says persons who have acquired notoriety from their achievements on the turf at the table and in the diversions of the field with sketches of the various animals of the chase to which is added an account of noted pedestrians trotting matches cricketers etc. The whole forming a complete delineation of the sporting world. It's a great book and I'm telling you it's tremendously readable. Uh if anybody brought out a reprint of this thing, I think he'd have a hell of a seller on his hands because it's it's extremely readable and it's written by a man generally conceited to be the first really recognized world recognized sports writer in No, this was even before Howard Coell. The man's name was Pierce Egan. Pierce Egan. And this was printed uh curiously enough in New York. Was printed in New York. Uh Johntown and the name of the uh company was Johntown and Van Nordon printers. Not they didn't call themselves publishers in those days. They were printers. John'stown and Van Nordon printers. New York 1823.
Now I'll read you a couple of these great things in here just to give you an idea of his style. He writes in a in a in a style I think that was uh that was really way ahead of its time in a sense. I mean he he he writes with a a very easy style. Uh now here for example here's an example. This is called uh cupping on the turf. Remember he's writing about sporting events of the time. He said at Oxford races in 1817. Now that's just a few years ago according to him. You see, of course, he was writing in 1823. So that was only 5 years before that. He says in Oxford races in 1817, as soon as the gold cup was run for and the winner declared, an express set off for Brighton to give the office to use the language of the turf to give the office to certain Confederates at that place where it was previously known that a party of sporting gentlemen genuinely and seriously deeply interested in the event were enjoying the breezes of the sea air. The person going express being rather above jockey weight did not arrive in Brighton until after the party had retired to rest. Early in the morning the Confederates received the news of what horse had won and the nets were spread to catch the gudgeons.
Now you hear what this is. This is the account of a of a of a flim flam. Now you got to remember back in those days communication was slow. Now, if you were, say, 50 miles from a place where a race was was uh actually run well and you happened to know who won the race before anybody else in your town, you could make yourself a couple of bucks, couldn't you? Okay, now this is exactly what was going on. Now, I'll have to go back to the top. They ran the Oxford races, see the Gold Cup, which was a big race, of course, in those days, obviously, in 1817. and a man immediately set off on express set off for Brighton. Now Brighton is a if you know what Brighton is that's like the Atlantic City of England. Brighton is a is a resort. They set off to use the language of the turf to the to see their confederates. See and it's the person going express being rather above jockey weight did not arrive at Brighton. Remember he had to ride to get there uh until after the party had retired to rest. Early in the morning, the Confederates received the news of what horse had won. And the nets were spread to catch the gudgeons. Do you know what gudgeons are? That's a fish. Uh he's using a little illusion there. They they threw out their nets to catch the the suckers. It says several took the bait, but the chief sufferer was a gentleman well known in the vicinity of Drury Lane Theater. In other words, a big producer was down there, you know, uh having a thing with a chorus girl and he put a flyer on the horses and and and upon being accosted a few mornings after by a friend with quote, "Well, Sam, how do you do?" He replied, "Oh, I find myself much better since since I bathed in the warm bath and was cupped at Oxford."
Okay. Now, means nothing to you. You have to know what the expressions mean. Have you ever heard the expression he took a bath? All right. He took a bath. Now, do you know what cuped means? Well, that was a system of draining blood out of you. Aha. That's right. They they they drew blood out of him and gave him a bath and now he feels okay. Listen to this one. Uh do you want to hear another little story from his book? Uh this is that's all that's the end of the story. In other words, he was writing obviously people reading that knew who the guy was and they were all laughing. So he didn't mention who it was, but somebody really got took up the tracks.
This is W New York. The world's greatest magicians perform at the World Festival of Magic and the Occult. The weirdest show on earth. An unforgettable experience. Bring the whole family. You can hold each other's hands. The World Festival of Magic and the Occult, the weirdest show on earth. Wednesday, December 12th through Sunday, December 30th at the Felt Forum in Madison Square Garden Center. For ticket information, call 212564-44400. Tickets also at Ticketron.
And for those of you who are coming into town uh you know uh and would like to lay into some good beer and listen to some pretty good music, watch some classic oldtime mu uh movies. Uh they have live Dixie Land bands. They dance on the table. They yell and sing and wear straw hats. They have shrimp, chicken, and burgers and fantastic suds. You know what suds are, don't you? Right. Oh, they're wonderful. Suds are Oh, yes. Yes, indeed. We're talking about the your father's mustache. Your father's mustache. And you know, it's a it's an old village tradition. It's been down there so long that you kind of take it for granted. But those that crowd, every time you go past it, you hear them yelling and hollering and and the band playing. You know, you've been past there, Jerry. It's at the corner of 7th Avenue and 10th Street, right in the heart of the of the village. And uh they have ladies night every Monday. And they Now, one thing, if you walk, if you're going to the uh your father's mustache, which is famous all over the country, your father's mustache at 10th, that's 10th Street and 7th Avenue. If you walk in there, now they have an admission charge. Now, if if you walk up to the guy and say, "Excelsier, you fatthead." He will let you in free. That's excelsier, you fatthead. Now, when you get up after he hits you, uh he will then let you in free. And your evening has started off great. You'll have shrimp, chicken, burgers. So, get in there and have a thing. You know, it's all right. Uh you'll find it's fine.
Willie, when are you going to teach me how to speak? Actually, Joe, a good speaking voice is simple to attain. Modulation is the important thing. I'm sure you know what modulation is. Sure. It controls the gas flow. Uh Joe, you want to let me just sell the cars? Okay. Be my guest, Willie. Friends, Joe D at Chief Pontiac in Little Falls is having a huge leftover sale on new 73 Pontiacs. Now, if you visit Chief Pontiac right now, you can choose from Venturas, Lemons, Grand Pris, station wagons, you name it, and Joe will give you a deal on it that no one in the East can beat. And he has a credit plan that gives homeowners up to four years to pay. So, get over to Chief Pontiac during their big early bird leftover sale. It's on Route 46 in Little Falls, New Jersey. Willie, you really gassed them. Those pearly tones do it every time. Every time.
Joe, these are great little stories. But some of them though, because you have to know. Listen to this one. Now, here's a story about bear baiting. Bear baiting. He calls it bear baiting in olden times. Bear baiting was a favorite amusement of our ancestors. Sir Thomas Pope entertained Queen Mary and the Princess Elizabeth. Now remember, this was Queen Elizabeth I. uh Sir Thomas Pope uh entertained Queen Mary and the Princess Elizabeth at Hatfield with a grand exhibition of quote bear baiting uh with which their highnesses were right well content end of quote. Bear baiting was part of the amusement of Elizabeth among quote the princely pleasures of Kennallorth Castle. Roland White, speaking of the queen, then in her 67th year, says, quote, "Her majesty is very well. This day she appoints a Frenchman to do feats upon a rope in the conduit court. Tomorrow she has commanded the bears, the bull, and the ape to be baited in the tiltyard. Upon Wednesday, she will have solemn dancing." End of quote. You didn't know that Queen Elizabeth the baited apes. That's interesting. I never heard of that. Anyway, he goes on to say, "The office of the chief master of the bears was held under the crown with a salary of six shillings per dium." Uh whenever the king chose to entertain himself or his visitors with this sport, it was the duty of the master to provide bears and dogs and to superintend the baiting. And he was invested with unlimited authority to issue commissions and to send his officers into every county in England who were empowered to seize and take away any bears, bulls, or dogs that they thought would meet for his majesty's service. The latest record by which this diversion was publicly authorized is a grant to Sir Saunders Duncham October 11th, 1561 for the sole practice and profit of the fighting and combating of wild and domestic beasts within the realm of England for the space of 14 years. Occasional exhibitions of this kind were continued until about the middle of the 18th century. End of story. That's interesting, isn't it? Great.
You want to hear his portrait of a jockey? Now all of you out there, you you know this is a sport that we still have today. Port of the sport of a jockey. Okay, this is called portrait of a jockey. Quote, and he takes this quote from Gringers's characters. Quote to ride this season. An able jockey fit to start for match and sweep stakes or king's plate wellsized can mount 12 stone or stripped to a feather sound wind and limb and free from blemishes. He was got by Yorkshire Tom out of full sister of Depford Nan. His grandman was the German princess and his great grandman was daughter by Maul Flanders. His sire won the king's plate at York and Hamilton, the king's subscription purse at Nottingham, the give and take at Lincoln and the sweep stakes at New Market. His grand sire beat Sam Chiffany at Epsom and Berford and Patrick Machadam over the Kura of Kildair. His great granddam rode for King Charles II. And so noble is the blood that flows in this jockeyy's vein that none of his family was ever distanced, stood 5 ft, or weighed more than 12 stone. That's a man from a family of jockeys. That's an ad for a jockey. Isn't that a great little story?
Now, here's a little little little itsybitsy uh piece of writing called female pedestrianism. Now, that was a sport. In other words, walking was a big sport in those days. On Wednesday, and this is just a note, a sporting note, on Wednesday, October 29th, 1817, Esther Crosier undertook the fatiguing task of walking 1,000 mi in 20 days at the washway Brixton, but in consequence of some dispute, she gave it up after having completed 350 mi in 7 days. End of story. Did you hear what she was trying to do? Walk a,000 miles in 20 days. She walked 350 in seven. So figure, well, that's 50 miles a day, friend. That's pretty good walking.
Now, here is his description of athletic sports in America. Now, this is really interesting. You must understand Pierce Egan was an Englishman and Pierce Egan was writing about the world of sports. Now he and this was 1823 that he was writing of this and here is a a uh a little piece of writing called athletic sports in America. Now he's describing the kind of sports we had in our country in his time. Uh he says uh quote and this is uh from a person he knew uh from the travels of Mr. John Palmer uh in 1817 who traveled through the United States of America and lower Canada. Wouldn't you love to have traveled throughout America in 1817? Well, here's here's a description of the sports of the period. And this is from a contemporary account. Quote, "Off from Hagerstown." You know where Hagerstown is? Maryland. That's right. Off from Hagerstown before the break of day. The same magnificent scenery and the same bad roads. It's astonishing how good the stage horses are in this rugged country. You seldom see any blind, sprained, or lame. And our driver informs us that they are very hardy. And with gentle driving, they never tire. A team of four, prime, and matches is worth $600 and will fetch $700 in Philadelphia and Baltimore. Small flies do not trouble the horses here as they do in England, never pursuing them in a swarm around the horse's head. There is a small brown swamp horsefly and two two kinds of hornets, black and yellow, rather numerous and occasionally troublesome. Women all travel on horseback in these mountainous regions. It will be next to impossible for them to travel any other way until the turnpike roads are completed sometime in the future. Remember he was writing 1817 at Pittsburgh. We noticed a custom of selling horses common in the western states. And that was a western state in those days. Common in the western states. If a man wishes to sell one, he simply rides up and down the market and streets showing his paces and starts at say at $20 by calling out as he rides along $20. $20 and a capital one to rack. He racks well. He trots well. And by the way, he adds in this a note of Isn't that interesting? He ra this as a note of explanation. Racking is a favorite amling pace. Have you ever seen horses rack? Oh yeah, that's a you got to go to the horse show, learn something about life, joke. Uh but nevertheless, he says when he gets a fresh bid as he rides his horse down the street, he announces it. We have $25 here and the last bidder finally has the horse. If the owner does not approve of being his own auctioneer, he can hire one of the city officers for a small premium to ride his horse and sell it for him in the above manner. You know, wouldn't that be a great little bit in a in a western movie? You're writing a western movie of a guy riding up and down calling out the price of his horse. You know, if somebody's right Yes.
And you want to hear more about America in the 1820s. He says, "Our afternoon's ride was through the woods where we saw many tracks of deer. One noble buck passed us within gunshot at a at an easy trot. We observed several hunters and travelers encampments during the day. They were chosen." Now, if you're a camper, here's how they how they camped in those days. These were travelers encampments. They are chosen on an elevated spot of ground and poles, sticks, and branches are constructed very roughly into a temporary leanto hut. Mr. Keeman, where we breakfasted, tells us that he can always buy a deer's carcass, even if it weighs 100 lb, for a dollar, and the skin is worth as much more. He says some of the expert hunters will kill 70 or 80 in a season. Besides bears, wolves, foxes, turkeys, and other game. Buffaloos, elks, and moose used to be common here around Hagerstown, but they have lately immigrated across the Mississippi in Ohio. Beavers have also disappeared. In the afternoon, we passed a party of about 100 young men and women holding a barbecue frolic. It consists of a dinner in which a roasted hog in the Indian style is the prominent article and after it dancing, wrestling, jumping, squirrel shooting and so forth. Where they all came from seemed to be the wonder as we can hardly see a house. In fact, we haven't seen a house in the last 10 miles. From the rascality and quarrelome behavior of a few of the Kentucky men, the whole people have got a very bad character amongst the sister states, especially for blackardism and their manner of fighting. when intoxicated. But this uh is certainly confined to the lowest and is optional to the fighters. The question is generally asked, "Will you fight fair or take it rough and tumble? I can whip you either way." By God, isn't that great? Now, can you imagine a guy starting a fight in a barn? He says, "Will you fight fair or do you want to rough and tumble? I can take you either way." By God, the English reader, of course, now remember he's writing for Englishmen. He says, "The English reader, of course, knows what fair fighting is, but can have little idea of rough and tumble." In the latter case, the combatants take advantage, pull, bite, and kick, and with bullish, hellish ferocity strive to gouge to turn each other's eyes out of their sockets. I never saw a gouging match, though often of necessity in the lowest company, never had anyone offer to do me that favor. I believe it is not so common by any means as it is represented. However, I did saw I saw but two men who had been injured by this gouging method of fighting. One had almost lost an eye, and the other, a free negro, was nearly or totally sightless. They both lived on the banks of the Ohio, where this dreadful art is most practiced. It was introduced, by the way, from the southern states. There certainly ought to be a strong law enacted to prevent a resort to so brutal a practice. Surely, it is a disgrace and a stigma to the legislature. Prize boxing is unknown in the United States, but fighting is very common. Isn't that a great description?
Uh now, now if you want to hear though a really fantastic uh I wish I could find it here. Uh the most incredible walker, remember that story uh that I I uh read to you, Jerry? Uh let's see now if you want to if uh if you want to hear uh if you think women's live is new. I mean most of us think that women going into racing and all that is new. You know this is a whole new ball game. Well here's a story on page 184 of this 150 year old book. And this is the original book. This is not a reprint that I'm reading to you from by a sporting writer called Pierce Egan, great English writer, uh, one of the first sports writers known in history. And he writes one story called sporting intrepidity displayed by Mrs. Thornton. She was intrepid. The lady of Colonel Thornton, it seems, is equally attached to the sports of the field with her distinguished husband. And the singular contest which took place between Mrs. Thornton and Mr. Flint in 184 not only stands recorded on the annals of the turf as one of the most remarkable occurrences which ever happened in the sporting world, but likewise a lasting monument of female intrepidity. The following are the circumstances which gave rise to this extraordinary race. An intimacy once existed between the families of Colonel Thornton and Mr. Flint, the two ladies being sisters, when the latter gentleman frequently parttook of the exhilarating bottle at the hospitable board of Thornville Royal. In the course of one of their equestrian excursions in Thornville Park, the lady of Colonel Thornon and Mr. friend were conversing on the qualities of the respective horses. And as it generally happens when a spirit of rivalry exists, a difference of opinion was great, and the horses were occasionally put at full speed for the purpose of ascertaining the point in question. Old vinegaro, isn't that a great name for a horse? Vinegarilo, it's like vinegar. Vinegarilo uh aided by the skillfulness of his fair rider distanced his antagonist every time which so discomforted Mr. Flint that he was at length induced to challenge the lady to ride on a future day before judges and in a formal race. You see what's happened? He's being beaten by this chick and he's getting bugged. Mr. fled. This challenge was readily accepted on the part of the lady by Colonel Thornton, and it was agreed that the race should take place on the last day of the York August meeting, 184. This curious match was announced in the following manner in the public print. Quote, "A match for 500 guineies and 100 guineies by four miles between Colonel Thornton's vinegar and Mr. Flint. Uh, Thornville. I see. Thornville by volunteer. Mrs. Thornton to ride her weight against Mr. Flints. On Saturday, August 25th, this race took place. The following description appeared in the York Herald. Quote, "It's a fantastic sporting event. Remember, a lady is racing against a man, and there's a lot of money on it. 500 guineies in those days was a lot of money."
Listen to this. If you think, by the way, here's another thing that you don't think much about. We think that sporting crowds are big now. You know, we think in terms of uh, you know, 80,000 people out to watch uh the Miami Dolphins take on uh uh the Dallas Cowboys. It's a fantastic event. Well, listen to this. This is a this is a contemporary account of a horse race between a woman and a man, and the year is 184. Listen, quote, "Never did we witness such an assemblage of people." as were drawn together on the above occasion the race between Colonel Thornton's lady and Mr. Flint 100,000 at least. Nearly 10 times the number appeared on Knives Meer that did on the day when Bay Molton ran or when Eclipse went over the course, a famous raceh horse, Eclipse went over the course, leaving the two best horses of the day a mile and a half behind. Indeed, among the vast throng, expectation was raised to the highest pitch from the novelty of the match. Thousands from many or every part of the surrounding country throng to the ground. In order to keep the chorus as clear as possible, several additional people were employed. And much to the credit of the six light draons, a party of them also were on the ground in full uniform on horseback for the like purpose to keep people off the course. And it unquestionably was the cause of many lives being saved in the crush. About 4:00, Mrs. Thornton appeared on the grounds full of spirit. Her horse led by Colonel Thornon and followed by Mr. Baker and Mr. Boon. Afterwards then appeared Mr. Flint. They started a little past 4:00. The lady took the lead of for upwards of three miles in a most capital style. Her h her horse, however, had much the shorter stroke of the two. When within a mile of being home, Mr. Flint pushed forward and got the lead, which he kept. Mrs. Thornton used every exertion, but finding it impossible to win the race, she drew up in a sportsman-like style when within about two distances. At the commencement of the running, the bets were five and six to four on the ladies. In running the first three, you know, they changed their bets as they ran. In running the first three miles, seven to four and two to one in her favor. Indeed, the oldest sportsman on the stand thought she must have won. in running the last mile. However, the odds then became in favor of Mr. Flint. Never surely did a woman ride in a better style. It is difficult to say whether her horsemanship, her dress, or her beauty were most admired. The ensemble was unique. Mrs. Thornton's dress, you want to hear what she wore, was a leopard colored body with blue sleeves, the rest buff, and a elegant blue cap. Mr. Flint Road in purest white. The race was run in 9 minutes and 59 seconds. How is that for time? That's a four-mile race. 9 minutes and 59 seconds. Thus ended the most interesting race ever run upon Kavesmere. No words can express the disappointment felt in these quarters at the defeat of Mrs. Thornton. The spirit she displayed, the good humor with which she has borne her loss, have greatly diminished the joy in many of the winners. From the very superior style in which she performed her exercising gallop of four miles on Wednesday, betting was greatly in her favor. For the accident, which happened in consequence of her saddle girths having slacken and the saddle turning round, that's why she lost her saddle. Her her girth broke, you know, the the uh straps on the thing. Uh she she was not attended by the slightest injury to her person due to her excellent riding. It did not in the least damp her courage, while her horsemanship and close-seated riding astonished the beholders and inspired a general confidence in her ultimate success. Not less than £200,000. You realize how much money that is in those days? That's millions. Not less than £200,000 were pending upon Mr. Thornton's match and perhaps more if we include the bets in every part of the country and there is no part we believe in which there were not some. It will be seen by the time of performance that Haphazard was the best horse at the meeting. Seldom have we witnessed a meeting at York where the races have been so well contested. Almost the whole have been run and the horses run in a style of great superiority. In all justice it must be observed that Mrs. Thornton was much the better rider indeed. She labored under every possible disadvantage. Notwithstanding that with the ungallant conduct of Mr. Flint, she flew along the course with an astonishing swiftness. In spite of Mr. Flint's ungallant behavior, he doesn't say what Mr. Flint did, but he was ungallant. But she was undaunted, and she rode with elegant and astonishing swiftness, conscious of her own superior skill as an equestrian, and would ultimately have outstripped her adversary if the unfortunate accident had not took place. Isn't that a great little story? 100,000 people. And now now you know you get a feeling of the people of the day too by reading stories of the sporting world and I and and you get a you know you can read novels and everything of that period and you don't get the same sense of life that guy riding outside of Hagerstown you know watching those people having a barbecue. I thought barbecue was kind of a new word. There it was in 1800. That this book that I've just been reading to you, in case you're wondering what it is, is not available. It's extremely expensive, I might add. It's a collection of uh sporting anecdotes, as it's entitled by by Pierce Egan, published in New York in 1823 by Jstone and Van Nordon, printers of that city. 18. And you know where they were located? In case you're curious, they were located in Greenwich Muse down in the village. Of course, in those days, 1823, New York did not yet have uh the problems around 34th Street that it has these days. [Music] You know, it's a great little book, isn't it? You like that? So, you see, writing sometimes lasts even longer than movies. [Music]