348 HORSE PORTRAITURE. 



tic, and you are undoubtedly wrong in thinking such to 

 be the estimate of the public generally. Scotch history, 

 her romances, traditions, poetry, and music, prove the 

 contrary. I have read and who has not ? many works of 

 Scotch fancy ; and from James the First of Scotland, in 

 whose King's Quhair there is "Beauty enough to make the 

 world to doat," to Alexander Smith, her poets have been 

 in the front rank. Why, the Ettrick Shepherd could never 

 have had an existence in a country whose people were not 

 highly imaginative. His "Queen's Wake," though read 

 many years ago, and my recollections of it indistinct now, 

 still captivates my fancy ; and passages, thought to have 

 been long forgotten, come freshly to my mind. How com- 

 pletely does he exalt the "Lovely Kilmeny" above earthly 

 life ! and when transporting her to the "land unseen," the 

 transition appears proper, without the aid of death. For 



"her beauty was fair to see, 



But still and steadfast was her e'e ; 

 Such beauty bard may never declare 

 For there was no pride nor passion there, 

 And the soft desire of maiden's e'en 

 In that mild face could never be seen. 

 Her seymar was the lily flower, 

 And her cheek the moss rose in the shower, 

 And her voice like the distant melodye 

 That floats along the twilight sea." 



But to prove the imaginative power of Scotch poets and 

 romance writers, would be a waste *of time, like giving 

 reasons for twice two being four. 



We will now divest ourselves of sleeping or waking 

 fancies, and consider the important question of feeding 

 horses in training. In order that a horse may be in proper 

 condition to go fast, the greatest care is requisite in 

 feeding. The food must be of the best quality, and the 



