214 UNASKED ADVICE. 



STABLE EEPORMS. 



Lately a writer on tlie subject of liippopliagy stated, as a 

 reason wliy tliat practice was not likely to become popular 

 in England, tbat ^^the horse is tbe friend of man/^ Every 

 thing in this world goes by comparison, and compared to 

 the ox, or the more humble pig, the horse may call him- 

 self his master^s friend ; but he is, after all, in the position 

 of a very humble friend — the not over and above well- 

 used class, out of which we charitable worldlings get all 

 the benefit that we can ; use them, in fact, when wanted, 

 and as long as they can be useful, and then cast them 

 aside. The dog has an advantage over the steed here. 

 No man sells a dog because he is old and used up ; but 

 then it must be remembered that there is no demand for 

 superannuated dogs, so it is not of necessity the goodness 

 of heart of the master that insures the faithful old dog 

 either a prolonged and useless existence on the hearthrug 

 or elsewhere, or a speedy, painless passage to the happy 

 hunting grounds. But the common fate of the old horse 

 is "too well known to need description.^' FaciUs descensus, 

 and no mistake, is the career of the three hundred-guinea 

 hunter when he becomes not quite equal to the work 

 required of him by the opulent owner. The first down- 

 ward step is probably TattersalFs, when he fetches £50, 

 and is hunted another season is some less fashionable 

 country than his last one. Then Aldridge^s or some 

 provincial repository — " Going at 20 guineas, gentlemen ; 

 can^t dwell ; gone V Say he hunts another season as a 



