Cheer up, brothers, for the day is at band. Suffolk Downs dusts off the bugle Monday afternoon.

It has been our custom in past years to foretell of the future for this joyous event, particularly with respect to the $5000 feature race, the Damon Runyon Memorial. In these troublous times, however, all is flux, and we have seen fit to substitute for our predictions the following document.

This fragment was presented to us by an ancient Oriental, an habitue of the ovals, so to speak, who claims descent from Confucius, and who has shown remarkable prowess of late at Lincoln Downs. We quote in part:

It is written, Two dollars on the back of a horse profiteth nothing; but I say unto you, this is blasphemy.

2. For behold I am returned this day from Lincoln of Providence, in the land of the great races;

3. And my pocket is filled, and my cup runneth over.

4. And all people round about did marvel at my great works, for my treasure did grow and did magnify by sixty-nine dollars and fifty cents; and my wisdom was very great.

5. Take heed, therefore, all ye that want: for two days and two nights shall pass and thy chance is at hand.

6. For on that day, which is called Mon Day, thou shalt gird up thy loins to the mud lands of the cast, into the Downs that are called Suffolk.

7. And thou shalt know which is the place by the multitude and the flag staffs, and by the geese which play in the infield; and thou shalt enter in straightway.

8. But show not thy Bow Tie and thy Whitewalled Tire, lest thy friends shall be legion; for verily I say unto thee thou shalt know a tree by its fruits; therefore hear my words thus:

9. Beware the servants of Armstrong; for they poreth mightily over the Racing Form and the Tip Sheet, but they heedeth not the spirit of the horse on that day nor that which the horse hath eaten at Breakfast; and I say verily they will have their reward.

10. Beware likewise the Timer; for he riseth early in the day and loitereth by the rail in search of the Fast Horse, but hell will freeze over are he risketh a Long Shot; and verily I say he will have his reward.

11. Beware also the Hunch Player; for he chooseth a horse for its initials, or because that it resembles one of his ancestors; and verily I say he will have his reward.

12. Beware again the false prophets; for there dwelleth in the land an old soothsayer in the place of the Merle, and his name is called Bill; and he is wondrous glib with his tongue unto the hour of Post Time;