THE MANAGEMENT OF A STABLE BY A WOMAN. 7 



" Nothing pleases a subordinate more than to receive a command that 

 he has the opportunity of showing to be absurd or unreasonable. It author- 

 izes hesitation in obeying and discussion on the propriety of any that may be 

 subsequently given. 



" To prevent such an unpleasantness on the part of a lady, or one unac- 

 customed to horses, the mode can be prescribed in a very few words. We 

 will, of course, suppose that the horses and their accompaniments are wished 

 to look as they should do for the purpose for which they are wanted. The 

 first thing is to be made master of what proportion of work it is reasonable 

 to expect from horses in their different capacities, and the mode in which 

 and times at which such work should be called for. We will, of course, 

 suppose they are to have a comfortable stable, comfortable clothing, and the 

 man to have proper time to do his business, and all that he requires in rea- 

 son to do it with ; the next thing, the proper and liberal allowance of prov- 

 ender of different sorts that is necessary to keep up the required condition. 

 Having learned this, and that the horses are in good health at the time the 

 man takes to them, there can be nothing unkind, unreasonable, and still less 

 overbearing, in her addressing her servant in something like the following 

 strain : ' I give you charge of my horses in good health and condition. I 

 shall only use them in such a way as authorizes my expecting them to be 

 kept so. I make such an allowance of provender as I am told by those who 

 perfectly understand such matters is fully sufficient. I shall take care that 

 your situation is made a comfortable one to you ; and so long as you do 

 your duty by me and my horses, you will keep it. Provided my horses look 

 well, you will find that no unnecessary interference with you will take place ; 

 but if, on the contrary, I am told they are neglected, or what is the same 

 thing, look as if they were so, the same day you go, unless I am told by 

 competent judges that you are not to blame ; and I never break my word.' 



"With such an exordium, no good servant would be afraid to enter on his 

 charge and doubtless would do his duty; while one less well disposed would 

 be afraid to neglect it. He might try ' the kicking over the trace,' but if he 



found that on the first attempt Mr. pulled him up, he would find it 



would not do." 



The task of personally conducting the management of a 

 stable is one that a lady is advised not to undertake even with 



