Turf Smoked.

counter . . One day his accustomed place knew him no more . The Windsor chair was vacant , It should hai'e been draped in black—many -wistful eyes looked toAvards it . Hushed conversation went on around the wooden bar about its late occupant ; and in that conversation I found revelation . The spell of secresy had been broken by that great magician Death . "Don't know who be was , sir ? No , sir !!! Why , that was Mr . Chicer , sir , Mr . '

Solomon Chicer—the GREAT BETTING MAN . See his death ancl a memoir of him in all the papers this morning , sir . He made a fortune in that chair , be did , sir , ancl I ' m told he ' s left it all to a black chap in Bombay , sir , Avho married his only daughter , as died young . No , sir—he neA'er see a race in his life , and I doubt if OA'er he saw a race- ' oss ; but at A BOOK , sir—Avell , there , he coidd make a book if ever a man coidd . ' Thousands he ' s ruined ? ' _ Yes—perhaps—but he was a honourable gent , be was . Fair

AND square . Paid up like a man , sir , AvoteA'er the event . But he's gone . Ah ! there ' s many AVUSS than he left behind ! I was told last ni ght , sir , that Piecrust is scratched for the Cityand Suburban . D ' ye think there ' s any truth in it ? " Ancl this was my hero's occupation—utilismgthat . " nohle animal" tbe horse as a punter uses a roulette box . That little book he was always scribbling in was then a betting book . 0 tempora ! 0 mores 1 ! Do you remember the contempt with AA'hich Iago speaks of his rival for the lieutenant ' s commission , —

¦ " ¦ Who never set a squadron in the field , JSTor the division of a battle knew ¦ More than a spinster ?" Here AA'as , or rather here had been , Michael Cassio ' s fellow in the world of field-sport . But—oh supreme test—tbe avocation bad been profitable—the beard had paid for the shaA'ing . However , Avitb the memoir that I read in tbe Times my interest in Mr . Chicer

ceased . I go to Louey ' s sometimes still , as I have said , but they haA'e moved aAvay the deceased ' s cbair . They have a very young ancl g lib drawer tbere IIOAV who AA'ears a sealskin Avaistcoat and diamond solitaires , and ridicules tbe memory of the departed . He alludes to him flippantly as " old Turfy , " and Avith reference to the years he had sat on that throne , the money be had amassed , the means by which he had made it—tbe skill with AA'hich bis secret had been preserved—at least so far as I Avas enlihtened—but of

g course to thousands of tbe frequenters of tbe house during say half of the two score years with which Mr . Chicer Avas credited as a constant—oh how constant—customer it could have been no secret at all , —and the event that led to its ultimate public disclosure—this " puny whipster" raises a witless laugh by sneering allusions to the old gentleman baying been at last , like Irish bacon is said to be , " Turf Smoked !"

Past And Present.

PAST AND PRESENT .

BY SAVARICUS . ( Concluded from page 447 ) . 3 RD SPIRIT ,: — . I greet ye , sisters tAvain ; tbe AA'orld is fair , In peace the mountains sleepand forests gi'OAy ,

, . The rills and streams to rivers send their share , ' ,. And all united to the sea then flow . The seas and oceans laA'e the pebbly shore ,, " ..... " .... ' :-.. ] Or Jashed' to tempests sweep the rockbound coast , The mighty waves may freely rage and roar , Tbe strand is firm , and keepeth to its post .