The Chautauquan, Vol. 03, January 1883: A Monthly Magazine Devoted to the Promotion of True Culture.; Organ of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific CircleChautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle
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The Chautauquan, Vol. 03, January 1883: A Monthly Magazine Devoted to the Promotion of True Culture.; Organ of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle
Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle
Chautauqua Institution -- Periodicals; Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle -- Periodicals
And now in the seat, and the grasp of the reins first secured, let
the tyro make a start; not in a hurry, not with an instant dose of
whipcord—a word of encouragement to his horse should suffice at first.
Let him learn to allow free room for his own wheels in turning corners
or passing obstacles: he has got two things to provide for, his vehicle
as well as the horse. Better give a wide margin at first than collide;
though before long his eye will guide him, and he need not then make
himself conspicuous as a greenhorn by giving too wide berths at corners
and rencontres. Go steadily round a corner; remember there is such a
thing as centrifugal force; and a two-wheel vehicle, high hung, may
easily be upset to the outside by a hasty whisk round a sharp corner,
even without the help of a bank to lift the inner wheel.
Then, as to the rule of the road. If he meets anything coming the
opposite way, he must take it on his right hand; if he overtakes it, on
his left; if he is overtaken he must keep to the left, and be passed on
the right.
“The role of the road is a paradox quite,
For if you go right you go wrong, and if you go left you go right.”
Down hill he should progress carefully, especially when on two wheels,
for then the extra weight of the cart hangs on the pad or saddle on
the horse’s back. A stumble and fall will probably break the shafts,
certainly cut the horse’s knees, and may pitch the occupant over
the splash-board. Let him hold well in, sit well back, play firmly
and lightly with his hand, ready to hold up sharply in event of a
stumble. Even a sure-footed horse may make a false step from the pain
of a loose, sharp-pointed bit of stone cutting his frog. A judicious
and timely support from the rein may save the horse and preserve his
balance, by thus suddenly shifting part of the weight of his head and
neck on to the carriage itself.
Next to a powerful seat, the mouth of the horse and the lightness of
the hand upon it are the requisites. “Half the value of a horse is in
his mouth” is an old maxim. Few owners are aware how much “manners”
depend upon the bitting and handling of a horse. Shifting the rein from
one bar to another makes all the difference in the going of the horse.
The mouth is the link of communication between him and his driver; the
bit must control him without fretting him, and the touch of the hand,
unless light, deadens its own injunctions.
As the whip progresses in his craft, he will note many other minor
details, apart from mere safety, which conduce to the welfare of
his horse and carriage also. Though he is bound by rules of road at
rencontre, he may choose his own path when all is clear; he need not
take his share of rolling into shape newly-laid stones, if a smoother
passage presents itself. Even if he can not altogether avoid stones,
he may yet ease the draught if he can manœuvre only one wheel on to a
smooth surface.—Cassell’s _Sports and Pastimes_.
EDUCATION FOR AND AGAINST CASTE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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