44 RIDING FOR LADIES. 



times excited by the sight of some countrified equestrian, 

 clad in the old-fashioned attire of our mothers' or grand- 

 mothers' epoch — skirt six feet long, and quite four yards in 

 width ; bodice with long basque, neck completely open, 

 displaying a huge expanse of shirt, finished off below the 

 chin with a red bow, or a blue one, or a green, as the case 

 may be ; sleeves of enormous dimensions, both wide and 

 long, and braiding enough to set up a regiment of Hussars. 

 There was a girl in the park last season who wore a habit 

 such as I have described, with the addition of soiled white 

 kid gloves, and an extraordinarily tall hat, with a very 

 narrow straight leaf, and evidently much too large to fit 

 her head, for it went bobbing over her eyes at every step 

 of her ungainly steed. Thousands of laughing glances 

 were directed towards her, but she never minded, and only 

 seemed pleased ; possibly she thought they were signs of 

 admiration — and her pleasant, healthy face was aglow with 

 delighted satisfaction. 



What a pity, I thought, that she had not the benefit of 

 that inestimable looking-glass, a friend's eye. Somebody 

 ought to have told her what an exhibition she was, yet 

 evidently nobody did ; so ready are we to ridicule others, 

 without offering help. 



A learner's first costume may be as primitive as her 

 knowledge of the art — yet certain particulars concerning 

 it ought not to be overlooked, and while considering them 

 I shall adopt my former unceremonious mode of address, 

 and speak as friend to friend. 



To begin, then, with your head. Leave your hair 



