Children in the Hunting-Field. 457 



that never happened, riJe in a place to which neither you nor your horse was ever equal. This 

 rule applies to both sexes in the hunting-field, but ladies should particularly avoid placing 

 themselves in positions where, in spite of all manner of charms, they are considered, to say 

 the least, very troublesome. On the other hand, there are not a few examples of ladies 

 bred in town, and transplanted under favourable auspices to the country, who have com- 

 menced by riding the lanes on a pony, advanced to a slow, steady old hunter, and finished, 

 well mounted, by taking up a position in good runs as advanced as their warmest admirers 

 could desire. Given the natural strength, nerve, and taste for sport, the rest is m:rely a 

 matter of experience and expen.se — the last being an essential ingredient in the hunting ol 

 ladies. The hunter of a lady who really means " to ride " in a good county must be perfect, 

 and perfection is always costly. As a rule, if otherwise suitable, a lady's hunter should not 

 be less than 15 hands 2 inches high, a height which is a happy medium for a hunter and a 

 lady's hack. 



The subject of the dress of Aiiiasones has been very fully treated in Chapter XV. ; but 

 it is important to add that ladies returning from hunting by rail should be well provided with 

 cloaks and rugs, because, after the exhaustion of a good day, the inevitable draughts of a 

 railway-carriage are apt to give severe colds. If circumstances do not admit of a complete 

 change of clothing on dismounting, before travelling home by road or rail, it is very desirable 

 that the boots and stockings should be exchanged for warm, dry pairs, which may easily be 

 rolled in a waterproof overcoat carried by a groom. 



BOYS AND GIRLS HUNTING. 



As soon as children who have ponies of their own can ride, there fs no reason that they 

 should not hunt, if hounds of any kind meet conveniently near, and many reasons why they 

 should. A useful art cannot be learned too early in life. Riding to hounds, like dancing, is 

 one of the accomplishments much better learned at the age when mankind most easily submit 

 to reproof, and are strongly influenced by example. Boys and girls alike, if of tender years, 

 should ride their ponies without stirrups or with the ladies' patent stirrup. Several fatal accidents 

 have occurred within my recollection from children falling and being dragged by the stupid 

 irons attached to their saddles. If girls have the third pommel they can ride perfectly well 

 without a stirrup — boys .should have quilted pads carefully filled and stuffed at the points 

 where the knees without stirrups naturally press. If nothing better is at hand a flock pillow 

 fastened with a surcingle will make a very good shift. 



Little girls " to the manner born " perform extraordinary feats in the hunting-field on 

 ponies ; but these little wonders are always mountain-bred, and however small, have the 

 true hunting shape. Therefore, ponies required to carry children with hounds should be 

 selected with more care as to their symmetry and courage than if merely wanted for the 

 road. 



TAKING STAINS OUT OF A SCARLET COAT. 



Three parts of pure nitric acid at 30" B., one part muriatic acid at 17". Shake gently, 

 avoiding the corrosive vapours. Put a loose stopper in the mouth. Put into this mixture one- 

 eighth of its weight of pure tin, in small bits at a time. When all is dissolved and settled, decant 

 it into bottles, and close with ground stoppers. It should be diluted only when used. This is 

 a recipe for eau (fcarlate that costs a guinea a bottle. 

 G G G 



