112 DESCRIPTION OF A HORSE 



a race. Prison-base, or prisoners' base, is a common rustic game 

 in which a player stands between the bases (or goals), and tries 

 to touch the others as they run past. 



16. they. The onlookers. 



26. Upon his compassed crest. That encompasses his crest. 

 The reference is to the upper portion of the mane, which 

 is sometimes pleated or braided. 



31. told the steps. Counted the steps, deliberately. 



34. As who should say, fyc. Like one giving proof of his 

 strength. 



EXERCISES 



1. Indicate the 'points' of a good horse from your own 

 knowledge, and from recollection of this description. 



2. From this description what inference would you draw as 

 to Shakespeare's ' nature ' knowledge, acquired in his youth in 

 the fields around Stratford ? What other evidences of a country 

 training does he elsewhere show ? [Birds, flowers, &c. found 

 in Warwickshire.] 



3. What other writers have described the horse. [Find 

 descriptions of the horse in Scripture (Book of Job), Thomson's 

 Seasons (Spring), &c.] 



FRAGRANCE: ITS BENEFICIAL EFFECTS 



IT may be advanced as a general truth that all 

 sweet smells are conducive to health. At least they 

 are harmless. 



Science has demonstrated in some detail the anti- 

 septic properties of the essential oils of lavender, 

 eucalyptus, clove, rosemary, and other plants; and 

 their power to destroy bacteria has been tested with 

 (in some cases) the most satisfactory results. We all 

 believe, not without good reason, that the air of a sun- 

 lit pinewood is not only pleasant in the nostrils, but is 10 



