348 Among Men and Horses. 



my book. I wrote it all myself.' I have always understood 

 that M. Clemanceau, the late French deputy, put Fillis's ideas 

 into words ; and think so still. Anyhow, Les Principes de 

 Dressage et d' Equitation is a book to be proud of ; although 

 it would be in better taste if Fillis had avoided adversely 

 criticising in its pages, the books of other authors on equita- 

 tion savante, to wit, those of Baucher and Barroil. Ecuyers 

 who are not particularly friendly with Fillis, retort that in his 

 actual breaking, he largely employs, to obtain many of his airs, 

 the whip, against the use of which he is particularly severe 

 in Les Principes. Fillis, in his own estimation, is infallible 

 and has obtained finality in his art. 



When we saw Fillis enter the circus on the back of the 

 handsome and well-bred Germinal, we forgot his faults of 

 phrase and manner, and reverently acknowledged that we 

 were in the presence of a great master. What I liked most 

 about him was that the horse walked into and round the 

 ring in ordinary style, and without a trace of excitement 

 or exaggerated collection, until he began his particular turn 

 or act. As soon as he had finished his numero, he resumed 

 his placid way of going, which showed that his brilliancy 

 was not the result of his having been recently tortured. 

 Germinal was supple, light, and executed all his movements 

 with admirable precision, and with entire absence of fret- 

 fulness. In fact, he appeared to work by the indications of 

 the hand and leg and not by the irritation of the spur. 

 Fillis was more * starred ' on the programme than any other 

 performer ; a fact which shows how highly esteemed clever 

 circus riders are on the Continent. The points which I did 

 not like about his riding were as follows : (i) His seat 

 was inelegant ; because he humped his back and worked his 

 body, arms and legs with far too evident effort to obtain 

 effect on his horse. (2) He held his hands too close together 

 on the reins. In the position he kept them, they had the 

 appearance of those of a man who is trying to steer a boat 

 with both hands on the tiller. (3) He held his hands too 



