Gentlemen have something to answer for, when they employ the knowing and the ignorant as grooms about their stables. The writer wishes women would undertake to tend on horses. The animal requires no service that the female strength would not be equal to, while the female mind would soon comprehend and appreciate the gentleness of the quadruped. The timidity of the equine race would meet with womanly sympathy; and no one can have observed the attachments which spring up between the female and domesticated creatures, but must in heart have confessed that the care of the stable was, as much as the watching of the sick-room, especially woman's province. The foolish fellows, now congregated about a mews, are constantly longing for something which shall magically do their work for them. They have a firm belief in charms and an utter hatred of labor. They sigh for some spell which shall marvelously improve the appearance of their master's property without exertions on their parts. Their pride centers in the blooming coats of their charges. They have a large confidence in all sorts of condition balls. Such secrets constitute the mystery of their craft. As a general rule, the faith is proportioned to the strength of the ingredient. Arsenic is, by the lower order of stable keepers, contemplated with positive love. Vitriol, in the uneducated groom, engenders the warmth of passion. Niter breeds delight; and confidence is, by the better sort of horse attendants, bestowed on any filth or trash. Raw tobacco has some repute; but the ashes of the weed, collected and wrapped in several papers, are much more esteemed in the generality of stables. Half a pint of human urine, forced down the cleanly throat of the horse, is not an unfrequent benefit bestowed upon the animal; but, happily, this specific is recognized only by the more learned of the class. Of all things, however, to amend condition, perhaps, a raw egg driven into the horse's œsophagus, before any food has been consumed, may be honored by the most universal regard. Nevertheless, be the condition-worker what it may, the groom generally keeps his own counsel. Arsenic and vitriol are commonly favorites with agricultural carters, who poison their horses with the intention of over-much kindness. Tobacco ashes and eggs are popular with the more refined of the order. Both classes, however, are too self-confident and too ignorant to have any fear of consequences. With the groom, the egg is thrust into the fasting gullet. Its size excites the contractibility of the muscular fiber; the substance is soon grasped by the living tube with spasmodic tenacity. There it is retained. The symptoms consequent upon =choking= are soon exhibited; but the groom looks on unmoved. At first, he thinks the evidence of agony is proof in favor of his charm; subsequently he resolves, with the cunning of ignorance, "not to split upon hisself."