Vidal Gore — Eighteen Seventy [2475]

Don’t worry. The Herald will make it popular.” Jamie was his usual airy self. We were seated beneath a shady tree. Today the weather had been formidably hot, and both horses and riders looked exhausted. For the last two years polo has been the rage in England. Not to be outdone by our—by his—British cousins, Jamie has now formed his own club, and a number of young men have taken to the game. Mounted on horses, the players try to hit a small wooden ball with a long mallet. Like so many games, polo is more amusing to play than to watch. — Vidal Gore, Eighteen Seventy, 2475

Note

This paragraph effectively juxtaposes Jamie’s confidence with the reality of the scene, underscoring a sense of irony that invites reflection on the nature of popularity and its pursuit. The imagery of exhausted horses and riders adds to the ambiance and complements the theme of effort versus outcome.