10 THE ART OF TAMING HOUSES. 



own account of the secret was, that he originally acquired 

 it from a wearied soldier who had not money to pay for a 

 pint of porter he had drunk. The landlord was retaining 

 part of his kit as a pledge, when Sullivan, who sat in the 

 bar, vowed he would never see a hungry man want, and 

 gave the soldier so good a luncheon, that, in his grati- 

 tude, he drew him aside at parting, and revealed what 

 he helieved to be an Indian charm. 



Sullivan never took any pupils, and, as far as I can 

 learn, never attempted to train* colts by his method, 

 although that is a more profitable and useful branch of 

 business than training vicious horses. It is stated in an 

 article in " Household Words " on Horse-Tamers, that 

 he was so jealous of his gift that even the priest of Bally- 

 clough could not wring it from him at the confessional. 

 His son used to boast how his reverence met his sire 

 as they both rode towards Mallow, and charged him 

 with being a confederate of the wicked one, and how 

 the " whisperer" laid the priest's horse under a spell, and 

 forthwith led him a weary chase among the cross roads, 

 till he promised in despair to let Sullivan alone for ever. 

 Sullivan left three sons : one only practised his art, with 

 imperfect success till his death ; neither of the others 

 pretended to any knowledge of it. One of them is to 

 this day a horse-breaker at Mallow. 



The reputation of Mr. Rarey brought to light a num- 

 ber of provincial horse-tamers, and, amongst others, a 

 grandson of Sullivan has opened a list under the 

 auspicies of the Marquis of Waterford, for teaching his 

 grandfather's art of horse-taming. It is impossible not 

 to ask, why, if the art is of any value, it has not been 

 taught long ago ? 



In Ireland as in England, the accepted modes of 

 taming a determined colt, or vicious horse, are either 



