204 IN THE HIDING-SCHOOL. 



all foreign masters in the United States, for 

 there is no American system of horsemanship, 

 the traditions of the army, and of the north, 

 being derived from France, those of the south 

 from England, and those of the southwest from 

 Spain, by the way of Mexico and Texas. 

 Under his instruction, you will remain longer in 

 the debatable land between perfect ignorance 

 of horsemanship, and being a really accom- 

 plished rider, than you would if taught by a 

 foreigner, but, as has already been said, you 

 will learn more rapidly at first, and the result, 

 if you choose to work hard, will be much the 

 same. 



Should you, by way of experiment, choose to 

 take lessons from both native and foreign mas- 

 ters, you will find each frankly ready to admit 

 the merits of the other, and to acknowledge 

 that he himself is better suited to some pupils 

 than to others and, to come back to what was 

 told you at the outset, you will find them unan- 

 imous in assuring you that your best teacher, 

 the instructor without whose aid you can learn 

 nothing, is yourself, your slightly rebellious, but 

 withal clever, American self. You can learn, 



