FIRST-HAND BITS OF STABLE LORE 



much opportunity to inquire into, or practise 

 other methods. He has been made to do thus 

 and so because — well, because that was "the 

 right way to do it," and his teachings run along 

 similar lines. He also fears ridicule if he depart 

 from the narrow limits of established usage, and 

 so do his pupils ; hence they are as keen as is he 

 in the matter of discouraging any innovations. 



Books and articles upon four-horse and tandem 

 driving err in the same way ; instead of setting 

 forth fairly the advantages and disadvantages of 

 different methods, they one and all follow the 

 dead level of what the ancient road-coach chario- 

 teers are supposed to have done ; and there is no 

 spark of originality to any of their recommenda- 

 tions. They may all be right, but why are they 

 so? And why is any other fashion wrong? The 

 limits afforded here are narrow for what might 

 well be made an elaborate treatise with diagrams, 

 etc., but if one will experiment, one will find that 

 there are more ways than one to hold reins, 

 arrange loops and points, catch thongs, etc., and 

 realize that the term " correct form " is purely 

 arbitrary, and that it is quite possible to achieve 

 results in various ways, and yet to appear " cor- 

 rect" so far as workmanlike performance goes. 



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