284 SINGULAR MODE 



any apparent means of coercion. Every description 

 of horse, or even mule, whether previously broke or 

 unhandled, whatever their peculiar vices or ill habits 

 might have been, submitted, without show of resist- 

 ance, to the magical influence of his art, and, in the 

 short space of half an hour, became gentle and tracta- 

 ble. The effect, though instantaneously produced, 

 was generally durable. Though more submissive to 

 him than to others, yet they seemed to have acquired 

 a docility unknown before. When sent for to tame 

 a vicious beast, he directed the stable, in which he 

 and the object of the experiment were placed, to be 

 shut, with orders not to open the door until a signal 

 given. After a tete a tke between him and the horse 

 for about half an hour, during which little or no 

 bustle was heard, the signal was made, and, upon 

 opening the door, the horse was seen lying down, and 

 the man by his side, playing familiarly with him, 

 like a child with a puppy-dog. From that time he 

 was found perfectly willing to submit to any disci- 

 pline, however repugnant to his nature before. I 

 once saw his skill tried on a horse which could never 

 before be brought to stand for a smith to shoe him. 

 The day after Sullivan's half-hour lecture, I went, 

 not without some incredulity, to the smith's shop, 

 with many other curious spectators, where we were 

 eye-witnesses of the complete success of his art. This, 



