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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； 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； 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 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； starters； judges； and grooms。
He does not look on at the races； like Mr。 Goodchild and his
fellow…spectators。 He does not profit by the races； like the
hotel…keepers and the tradespeople。 He does not minister to the
necessities of the races； like the booth…keepers； the postilions；
the waiters； and the hawkers of Lists。 He does not assist the
attractions of the races； like the actors at the theatre； the
riders at the circus； or the posturers at the Poses Plastiques。
Absolutely and literally； he is the only individual in Doncaster
who stands by the brink of the full…flowing race…stream； and is not
swept away by it in common with all the rest of his species。 Who
is this modern hermit； this recluse of the St。 Leger…week； this
inscrutably ungregarious being； who lives apart from the amusements
and activities of his fellow…creatures？ Surely； there is little
difficulty in guessing that clearest and easiest of all riddles。
Who could he be； but Mr。 Thomas Idle？
Thomas had suffered himself to be taken to Doncaster； just as he
would have suffered himself to be taken to any other place in the
habitable globe which would guarantee him the temporary possession
of a comfortable sofa to rest his ankle on。 Once established at
the hotel； with his leg on one cushion and his back against
another； he formally declined taking the slightest interest in any
circumstance whatever connected with the races； or with the people
who were assembled to see them。 Francis Goodchild； anxious that
the