240 RIDING FOR LADIES. 



horses myself, and smiths are so intolerably conceited." 

 Just so ; they certainly are, and I can entirely sympathise 

 with you ; horse-owners are terribly dependent upon them, 

 ladies in particular. But I should advise you to do what 

 I myself have found effectual, namely, take your horses 

 either to a thoroughly competent farrier (there are, happily, 

 such to be found), or, what I think better still, to a 



SHOE HANGING PENDULOUS. 



complete duffer ! — one who knows very little about his 

 trade, and who, being aware of his deficiencies, will be 

 humble enough to accept your directions, and also willing 

 to act upon them and thankful for being afforded an 

 opportunity of doing so. I have heard that railway 

 companies seek for fools to act as pointsmen ; by all 

 means, then, look out for an idiotic smith ! 



