230 THE RULE OF THE ROAD. 



sensitive — more fit to roughly encounter iron without pain, but 

 far less fit to pleasantly respond to the gentle touch of a lady's 

 hand. 



544. — You may use a bearing rein if you like to restrain 

 a horse's head where nature intended it to rest, but you commit 

 an act of wanton, destructive cruelty when you put a crushing 

 weight on muscles which are unfit to sustain it, bring his sensitive 

 mouth in violent contact with a fixed iron bar, and try to carry 

 on a piece of unyielding leather, the receptacle of all those 

 magnificent senses for which nature has provided such a perfect 

 and elaborate spring balance. 



545. — In Britain, and British colonies, you turn to the left 

 when any one requires to pass you, and when you meet anything 

 except led horses. By the same rule you must of course go to the 

 right when you are going to overtake anything except led horses. 

 This exception is made in passing led horses because it is less 

 dangerous or embarrassing to their leader to have his led horses 

 frightened, or driven from him, than towards him — to have them 

 pull back and away from him, than to rush forward and towards 

 him, or towards each other. Under this rule too, a man with 

 a string of horses never requires to cross the road at all, but 

 keeps the right hand side, and lets everything pass or overtake 

 him on the side he rides. 



546. — When meeting or overtaking loose driven cattle or 

 sheep you may take either side that offers the clearest course, but 

 drive slowly, as however awkwardly they may run under your 

 horse or wheels, you are responsible for any injury to them or 

 to yourself. 



547. — Never aim at display in driving, it will always tell 

 against you. Try no close shaving. Give especially plenty of 

 room to lady drivers, to old men, or to young timid horses. 

 Stop rather than drive any one into a mess. Get out of the way 

 of pedestrians, if you can, rather than drive them into the dirt. 

 Leave the most level part of the road to high, top-heavy loads, 

 whether they are entitled to it or not. Do as you would be done 

 by, with everybody and everything, and don't foolishly get out of 

 temper because other persons may not treat you the same, or do 



