THE DRUMMER'S HORSE. 251 



drum loudly. From that time forward the cream 

 stallion bore the gorgeously attired drummer, beat- 

 ing the silver kettle-drums, and pacing proudly at 

 the head of the regiment.' 



I have several times seen him perform not only a 

 similar feat, which is a comparatively easy one, but in 

 less than half-an-hour teach a shying horse to allow 

 all the chambers of a revolver to be fired round his 

 head, a flag to be waved violently before his eyes, 

 and an umbrella to be opened suddenly in his face. 



I fully believe that if the owner of a horse were 

 to begin driving it without blinkers, it would never 

 require them. But of course I admit that if a horse 

 which had always been driven in blinkers were to be 

 suddenly deprived of them, he might probably take 

 fright at the unaccustomed range of vision. This 

 feeling, however, would soon wear off, and then the 

 horse would not only have wider opportunities of 

 finding out the meaning of objects which would have 

 frightened him if half seen, but would look all the 

 better for not having his beautiful eyes concealed 

 behind the leathern flaps. 



Still it would be quite possible to accustom the 

 horse to do without them. At first, they could be 

 spread out, so as to allow the animal a wider range 

 of vision. Then they could be gradually lessened in 

 size, and lastly removed altogether. 



