4- THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 



school ; but experience tells me that such instruction is too often 

 slurred over, or only practised at such long intervals that its effect is 

 confined to causing the pupil to walk upright and carry herself well 

 — a very desirable matter, but not all that is requisite as a pre- 

 paration for riding. 



Drill, to be effective for the above purposes, sJioidd he practiced 

 daily. The course of instruction should begin with very short 

 lessons, lasting not more than twenty minutes at first ; but these, 

 given in the presence of mumma^ should be most rigidly and minutely 

 carried out, otTieriuise they are useless. They should gradually be 

 increased in length, according to the strength of the pupil, until she 

 can stand an hour's drilling without fatigue. The course should 

 include instruction in the use of dumb-bells, very carefully given. 

 The weight of these should in no case exceed seven poimds for a 

 yomig lady of fifteen or sixteen, and may judiciously be confined to 

 three and four pounds for those of a more tender age. The great 

 use of dumb-bells is to give flexibility to the shoulder joints and 

 expansion to the chest. The first lessons should not last more than 

 five minutes, and in no case be continued an instant after the pupil 

 exhibits the slightest symptom (easily discernable) of fatigue. 



Of the course of drill instruction, the lessons called the "extension 

 motions" are the most effectual in promoting flexibility of the whole 

 figure ; but they must be gone into by very gradual and careful 

 induction, and their effect will then be not only beneficial, but 

 pleasant to the pupil. 



As it is possible that this may meet the eye of some lady who 

 resides where no eligible drill master is available, I propose in my 

 next chapter to give a programme of the exercises I speak of, which 

 may then be practised under the superintendence of the lady herself 

 or her governess. But in all cases where the services of a competent 

 and thoroughly practised drill master are to be had it is always best 

 to employ them. 



Simple as the instruction may appear, the art of imparting it has 

 to be acquired in a school where the most minute attention is paid to 

 every detail, where nothing is allowed to be done in a careless or 

 slovenly manner, and where (so to speak) the pupil is never asked to 



