THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 93 



Again, as regards the jacket. A lady of slight figure (for effect) 

 can scarcely wear anything that fits too close, consistently with her 

 freedom of motion ; but the fair equestrian whose proportions are 

 not " sylph like" is badly equipped in such a garment. 



To revert to the hat for the latter type of lady, the most becoming 

 style seems to be one with a low crown, and brim more or less wide,, 

 according to the features of the wearer, as such hats admit of great 

 variety, both in material, and, what is more important, in colour ; 

 and consequently it is not difficult for a lady to obtain that which is 

 exactly suitable to her both as regards feature and complexion. 



Some of these hats for park or road riding, ornamented with 

 ostrich or other feathers, are exceedingly elegant and becoming, and 

 protect the skin from the rays of the sun, without any necessity for 

 a veU, which cannot be said of the plain black or gentleman's hat. 

 For the hunting field, of course, feathers or ornaments are out of 

 place ; but nevertheless most elegant low-crowned, wide-rimmed 

 hats, made of fine felt and without ornament, of shaj)es suitable to 

 every class of feature, are obtainable in Melton, and I presume are 

 equally accessible in London. 



The form of jacket most suitable for a lady whose proj)ortions 

 incline to fulness is a tunic, made Hussar fashion, that is, it should 

 have two seams in the back and be well sprung inwards towards the 

 waist without fitting tight ; the short skirt made full, and reaching 

 well down to the saddle ; the sleeves wide. Broad braiding 

 judiciously arranged on such tunics, too, will have the effect of 

 considerably diminishing the appearance of redundant fulness of 

 figure in the wearer. 



Two rows of braiding, commencing at the lower edge of the tunic 

 behind, should bend inwards towards the waist; but instead of 

 diverging thence to the shoulder points, as in a military coat, should 

 pass over the shoulders, about midway between them and the neck, 

 and thence be continued with a turn (ornamental or plain) to the 

 front of the tunic on both sides, and reaching down to its lower 

 extremity. There should be no braiding round the bottom edges of 

 the jacket. These tunics can be made either single or double 

 breasted, but in either case should have broad lappets in front; 



