OR, The Turn Out. 217 



of any good or charitable cause, has been led to write this book 

 from the same kindly feeling which induced him to become a Fellow 

 of the Royal Humane Society, of which he is an unusually active 

 member in his own way. The main scope and object of his work 

 is to induce a treatment of that best friend of man, the horse, 

 which shall be based solely upon kindness and method ; the key- 

 note of all, which is struck in one of the early illustrations, 

 representing a hand with corn, placed invitingly under the mouth 

 of a horse. The perusal of this book will teach the reader 

 how he may best carry this thought and tenderness into the 

 harnessing, unharnessing, and, indeed, into every action con- 

 nected with the horse ; until vice or trouble of any kind gives 

 place to a cheerful willingness, which is simply delightful to 

 both. As is natural to a man the business of whose life is to 

 supply vast quantities of saddlery, harness, stable, coach, and 

 colliery requisites, Mr. GouGH has much to say upon all these 

 things, the perusal of which will repay the time spent. 



" To identify his book with his own town, which of all others 

 caters most largely for the horse, Mr. Gough has sought for the 

 patronage of the local M.P., Sir Charles Forster, the result being 

 a very prompt and cheerful assent. Under all these favourable 

 auspices, we predict for " Centaur " a very successful career, 

 and none the less so that it is published by an enterprising 

 London firm. 



The WALSALL OBSERVEB, July, 1878. 



"'Centaur; or. The Turn Out.' By E. W. Gough. — 

 This book, whose first title pasted on the walls gave rise to so 

 much enquiry some few months since, is now almost ready to be 

 put into the hands of the public, who will then be able to satisfy 

 their curiosity to the full. The work is described by the author 

 as being ' a practical treatise on the (humane) management of 

 horses, either in harness, saddle, or stable, with hints respecting 

 harness-room, coach-house, &c.' In this brief sentence lies the 

 whole plan of the volume, which differs from any of the standard 

 works upon horses in many particulars — indeed, it may be said to 

 be unique both in design and execution. After a few general 

 remarks, tending to show the advantage to owners of care and 

 tenderness with the horse, the Author proceeds to deal in a plain 

 and practical style with ' The thorough groom,' an official whose 

 value will be enhanced because his character and capabilities will 

 be better known after a perusal of this the opening essay. We 

 say ' essay ' advisedly, for the book consists, not of chapters, but 

 of a series of papers upon different subjects connected with the 

 horse and his appurtenances. Next is given some sound advice 



