THE INNS AND OUTS OF LIFE. 253 



is another affair : but, supposing we really have gone 

 on very well, is that any reason we should not try to go 

 on better? Our forefathers thought we got on very 

 well when they, as mine always did, contrived to 

 actually get to Demezie's at Hartford Bridge to sleep, 

 but to attempt the remaining twenty-five miles home 

 the same day never entered their contemplation. We 

 of 1830 thought we went on very well in doing ten 

 miles an hour; but now we call twenty-five slow 

 travelling. We now get home from New York in 

 little more than a fortnight : depend on it we shall 

 not stop at this : so going on very well is, like most 

 things, but comparative at best. "Let well enough 

 alone" is an old and homely adage ; a safe one I admit 

 to a certain extent, but not one calculated to improve 

 our pursuits. It may also be urged that thousands 

 of horses are daily going quietly in harness put to 

 their work in the old way. I allow that thousands 

 are going thus quietly, but I must take the liberty of 

 adding, that scores are daily kicking and running 

 away ; and I am tempted to infer, from the opinions I 

 have heard of those who have been the unwilling 

 participators in such exhibitions, that once in a man's 

 life has quite satisfied him of their unpleasantry ; 

 and indeed many have been found after such occur- 

 rences in a state that has precluded them ever giving 

 an opinion on the matter. Horses going quietly 

 while all is going on right, is something like railroad 

 carriages going fifty miles an hour : so long as 

 they keep on the line and nothing breaks or strains, 

 they go as safely at that pace as at twenty : but if 

 something does go wrong, GOOD NIGHT ! So it is with 

 horses if nothing unusual occurs : even a vicious horse 



