Hands 109 



point I may be pardoned for again making a personal 

 allusion. 



When I began riding to hounds, with no qualifications 

 whatever except seat, — which I had acquired riding farm- 

 horses, colts, and an Indian pony bareback when I was quite 

 young, — I soon discovered that every horse I rode to 

 hounds took to pulling. I was indebted to Mr. Thomas 

 Hitchcock, Jr., for my first lesson in holding the reins, 

 which, needless to say, had been — in the beginning — after 

 the usual American style. This was the sportsmanlike way 

 in which he went about it. Instead of taking me to 

 account personally, he read a lecture to one of his grooms 

 one day in my presence on the shocking bad hands he had 

 — which were, as a matter of fact, an exact reproduction of 

 my own style of holding the reins. Mr. Hitchcock next 

 showed him how to hold them properly, and gave the 

 reasons. It was a lecture from the shoulder, and I remem- 

 ber feeling rather sorry for the groom, until I remarked 

 that he was taking it all in with something of a knowing 

 smile on his face. That Mr. Hitchcock was never heard 

 to correct a man in the presence of other people, and that 

 the groom in question had been with him several years, 

 came to my knowledge later; but the lesson had the desired 

 effect. It was my first lesson, and, as I look back upon it, 

 I think the most important lesson I have ever had. I men- 

 tion it to show that I haye reason to know whereof I speak 

 in comparing English and American styles of holding the 

 reins. 



A year or so later a very practical demonstration of hands 

 was given to me when I learned to drive four and tandem. 



