THE BARB AND THE BEIDLE. 95 



universal prevalence of dark rifle-green for riding habits. It 

 must be evident that a lady who is a " brunette " will look far 

 better in a riding dress the coloiu" of which is dark chocolate 

 -or purple than she will in green of any sort ; and on the other 

 hand a "blonde" would be more suitably attired in a habit of a 

 shade of light blue suitable to her complexion than in anything of 

 more sombre hue. Again, in the hunting field why should our 

 atrician ladies who grace these sporting reunions with their 

 presence, and go as straight and well as any men, shewing 

 always in the front rank, be debarred by fashion or conventional 

 usage from wearing scarlet jackets. Scarlet is worn on foot — for 

 opera cloaks, in shawls, in whole dresses. Why not scarlet on horse- 

 back? I saw a lady this season riding with one of our crack Midland 

 packs who wore a scarlet jacket of very fine cloth ; a light blue silk 

 cravat, fastened with a diamond horseshoe pin ; a skirt of very dark 

 blue, and a plain man's hat of Melton style. She was a blonde with 

 golden hair, mounted on a bright chestnut blood-like hunter; and, 

 as she was of slight, lathy figure, and rode exceedingly well, the 

 ensemble was quite charming. This lady was the cynosure of all 

 eyes, not only on account of her capital riding but her dress, which 

 I heard deprecated by some as " too lovd.'''' My humble opinion 

 was that it was exactly in harmony with the place and the sport, 

 most becoming to the wearer, and calculated to give dash and 

 hrilliancy to the coup d''oeil afforded by the field as they streamed 

 away after the hounds ; moreover, the lady herself had that 

 thoroughbred stamp and aristocratic bearing that would have ren- 

 dered any innovation in equestrian costume admissable in her case. 

 But when the complexion and style of any lady admits of it, I can 

 see no reason why she should not wear scarlet with foxhounds as well 

 as her brother or her husband. In summer time, too, is not dark rifle- 

 green or any dark colour and thick cloth which attracts the rays of 

 the sun to the certain discomfort of the wearer an absurdity, when 

 the fair equestrian would look far better, because more seasonably 

 attired, in light grey, light blue, or even in a habit of perfectly white 

 linen, or similar fabric ? . 



As I have ventured to point out a pleasing alteration of conven- 



