316 HUNTING. 



and cause young women to consider me an old one, 

 but I do consider that in these days ladies who go out 



hunting ride a turn too hard Let the 



greatest care be taken in the selection of their horses ; 

 let their saddles and bridles be fitted to such a nicety 

 that sore backs and sore mouths are equally impossible, 

 and let trustworthy servants be told off to attend them 

 during the day. Then, with everything in their 

 favour, over a fair country fairly fenced, why should 

 they not ride on and take their pleasure ? 



"But even if their souls disdain to follow a regular 

 pilot (and, I may observe, this office requires no little 

 nerve, as they are pretty quick on a leader when he 

 gets down), I would entreat them not to try * cutting- 

 out the work,' as it is called, but rather to wait and see 

 at least one rider over a leap before they attempt it 

 themselves. ; ..; ' - . ' . > What said the wisest of kings 

 concerning a fair woman without discretion ? We 

 want no Solomon to remind us that with her courage 

 roused, her ambition excited, all the rivalry of her 

 nature called into play, she has nowhere more need 

 of this judicious quality than in the hunting field." 

 Possibly the writer was thinking of two rival Dianas 

 who ride to cut each other down, and who are a 

 nuisance and danger to the entire field. One, if not 

 both of them, has generally to be picked up as the 

 result of this jealous riding. 



As it is in Leicestershire that many of our finest 

 horsewomen may be seen, I would strongly recom- 

 mend the lady who has done some preliminary hunting 



