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a history of the origin and compilation of the prefaced to 'The Poetry of Sport,' I wrote, 'With this volume, the twenty-eighth of the series, the  comes to an end, at least so far as is at present contemplated'; but noting how, since the issue of 'Hunting' in 1885, Golf and Cycling had attained such extraordinary prominence and popularity, I added, 'Who can say what sport may not spring up and take the public fancy? If any such does arise, a volume about it will doubtless be written.' Motoring—for the verb will have to be accepted and recognised—is such a sport, or, if the description be not admitted on all hands, is at any rate, for reasons set forth in the following chapters, sufficiently near to sport to require inclusion; and therefore no excuse seems necessary for this book. That automobilism is by no means a new idea the Marquis de Chasseloup-Laubat shows in his contribution; indeed,