CH. XIV AMERICAN METHOD 7,3$ 



As an instance of how many different ways of 

 doing the same thing may be suggested, the follow- 

 ing method given in Jouffret's Conduite en Guides 

 deserves mention : The near lead-rein is over the 

 first finger, the end coming out in front, between 

 that finder and the next ; the near wheel is on the 

 second finger, coming out in front, below that finger ; 

 the off lead-rein is over the third, and the off wheel 

 over the little finger, both reins hanging down. A 

 worse arrangement of the reins for any useful pur- 

 pose it would be difficult to imagine. 



In Walker's Manly Exercises, ed. 1835, a plate 

 by Alkex shows the near lead and the near wheel- 

 reins together on top of the fore-finger, but another 

 plate in the same edition shows them in the accepted 

 position, although the back of the hand is horizontal 

 instead of vertical. The first drawing is possibly a 

 mistake of the artist or the engraver ; there is no 

 mention of that method in the text. 



American Method. — An American stage-driver 

 holds his reins in the manner shown in Figs. 1 50 

 and 151. The near lead-rein is on top of, and 

 the near wheel-rein underneath, the fourth finger 

 of the left hand, the ends coming up in the hand 

 and falline backward over the thumb. The off 

 lead-rein is on top of, and the off wheel-rein un- 

 derneath, the second finger of the right hand, 

 the ends hanoine downward in the interior of the 

 hand. 



