SEAT. 95 



be the easiest to his 'oss ! " and in this, as in every other 

 remark of the humorous grocer, there is no little wisdom 

 and truth. " If he go smooth, I am," x said a Frenchman, 

 to whom a friend of mine offered a mount, "if- he go 

 rough, I shall not remain ! " and doubtless the primary 

 object of getting into a saddle, is to stay there at our 

 own convenience, so long as circumstances permit. 



But what a number of different , attitudes do men 

 adopt, in order to insure this permanent settlement. 

 There is no position, from the tongs in the fender, to the 

 tailor on his shop-board, into which the equestrian has 

 not forced his unaccustomed limbs, ta avoid involuntary 

 separation from his beast. The dragoon of fifty years 

 ago was drilled to ride with a straight leg, and his foot 

 barely resting on the stirrup, whereas the oriental cavalry 

 soldier, no mean proficient in the management of horse 

 and weapon, tucks his knees up nearly to his chin, so 

 that when he rises in the saddle, he towers above his 

 little Arab as if he were standing rather than sitting on 

 its back. The position, he argues, gives him a longer 

 reach, and a stronger purchase for the use of sword and 

 spear. If we are to judge by illuminated copies of 

 Froissart, and other contemporary chronicles, it would 

 seem that the armour-clad knight of the olden time, 



1 jPy suis. 



