THE PEECHEEON HORSE. 43 



the one that will be called for, having fewer difficulties to 

 overcome, can be lighter, more distingue, faster, and 

 more fit for adaptation to the exigences of trade and 

 fashion. Finally, Fashion wishing, positively, no more 

 gray horses, and the Perch eron finding no longer a suffi- 

 cient employment in the omnibuses, will soon find himself 

 in a tight place if he do not take a fresh start, and make 

 himself acceptable if he do not conform to the ex- 

 actions of the age, and become more stylish and darker 

 colored. 



It is settled, then, that he must put upon his "back a less 

 showy covering ; but he can only do this on condition 

 that he become, thanks to good crossings, more present- 

 able and have a more stylish air. And, really, what is 

 more ridiculous than a vulgar and common beast decked 

 out with the livery of the fancy and private horse ! 



Let us occupy ourselves, then, seriously in looking up 

 breeding stock of dark coats ; the time to do this appears 

 to me to have come. But where will we go to find 

 them ? Let us look about us and seek for this in Perche. 



If you there find, under a dark coat, a fine Percheron, 

 possessing all the qualities and specialties of the race, 

 make haste, take him and color your horses. Sincerely, 

 I give you this advice. Still, as in the present state of 

 things, it is rare that the fine and the somber are met with 

 together among the working races, by reason of the 

 horror which has been professed, up to the present moment, 

 for everything not gray, the best expedient would be to 

 color the coat by means of fine, dark skin Arabs, or with 

 good, well-chosen Norfolks, a subject that we will treat 

 upon in the chapter of crossings. As to doing it other- 

 wise, it is not to be thought of, the elements not exist- 

 ing in Perche. 



This, however, is only a minor matter. The essential 

 point is to unite the heavy to the distingue, weight to gait, 

 mildness to vigor, hardiness to energetic temperament, 



