22 DRIVING AS I FOUND IT. 



tihese matters does not know what is likely to lead to 

 danger, and of course when once in it, he is as helpless 

 as a child in adopting the best or perhaps the only 

 means of getting ont of it. The reader has doubtless 

 often seen a coachman, before taking hold of the reins, 

 go to all four of his horses' heads, lay hold of their bits 

 and feel that each horse is properly bitted. Probably 

 this to some has appeared a useless precaution. The 

 coachman, however, knows better, for upon this a great 

 part of his own and passengers' safety depends. 



I may perhaps surprise many persons by stating that 

 a horse improperly bitted will sometimes set 'him kick- 

 ing. Some may say what on earth has his moutlk to do 

 with his heels? A great deal with some horses. They 

 say "the devil is good-tempered when he is well 

 pleased." So am I, and so is a horse, and while he is he 

 goes pleasantly and quietly, but put a too severe bit 

 in his mouth, and what is ten times worse, put the 

 reins into rude hands, his mouth gets punished, which 

 naturally irritates and puts him out of temper. If under 

 these conditions any little thing occurs that at another 

 time he would not have cared for, he sets to kicldng at 

 once. 



The guarding against every probability of getting 

 into difficulties or danger I consider the first duty of a 

 coachman, knowing what is likely to lead to either is 



