FOK PEACE AND WAR. 155 



same principles ; for the same system which expands and disem- 

 barrasses the chest of the horse, by bringing his centre of gravity 

 over its proper point of support, applies with equal force to the 

 mounted equestrian of either sex. 



To attain the "seat of balance," the rider, whether male or 

 female, must throw back the upper part of the person, so as to 

 bring the weight directly over the saddle, this arrangement of the 

 figure is necessarily accompanied by a hollowing of the spine at 

 the waist, the effect of which, coupled with the retraction of the 

 head and shoulders, is to expand the chest to its full limits. 

 And as the blood is vitalized by the influence of atmospheric air in 

 the lungs, and the amount of energy required at each inspiration 

 depends upon the extent of the lungs engaged in this process, it 

 follows that the extension of the chest, especially when we are 

 borne rapidly through fresh and pure air, is a certain means of 

 giving increased vigour to all the vital functions ; and I may add, 

 that wherever healthy action is so induced, exhilaration of mind 

 is its inseparable attendant. 



This is a fact well worth the serious attention of parents and 

 those having charge of youth . 



It is well known, and every head of a family must have observed, 

 that young persons of both sexes, but especially lads who are 

 passing out of the age of boyhood, are frequently affected with 

 dulness of spirits, in some instances amounting to dangerous 

 melancholy. It is not for me to speculate upon the causes that 

 too frequently convert the laughing boy into a morose youth, 

 further than to say, that about this period of life there appears to 

 be an increased demand for vital energy, while as yet the puerile 

 lungs are not of sufficient capacity to admit, in this normal 

 condition, a competent supply of vitalising air : — under such 

 circumstances out- door exercise, of an exhilarating kind, is the 

 natural and ready remedy. Walking may contribute towards the 

 purpose to a certain extent ; but after a moderate amount of exercise 

 in that way, the increased action of the lower limbs exhausts all 

 the acquired energy from the freer use of the lungs, and the body is 

 not left any overplus of animation to impart to the mind. But in 



