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We venture to suggest and recommend that all who 

 have time, place, and opportunity, should perfect them- 

 selves in the noble art of equestrianism. To accomplish 

 this, systematic practice and judicious training are neces- 

 sary. There is nothing like getting used to it, and boys 

 and girls should begin early to ride. Almost all farmers' 

 sons and daughters have the opportunity, and although the 

 boys often boast what expert horsemen they have become, 

 by riding favorite Kate or Bill to and from the pasture, 

 yet, if about to travel any distance, they get the buggy, or 

 that abominable apology for a vehicle, the sulky, and if 

 asked why they do not ride on horseback, reply: "It 

 lames my side and back, and makes me sore all over." 

 Boys, such exercise is the very means by which muscular 

 strength, a good " stiff backbone," and a healthy liver 

 are acquired. 



The athletic exercises of the gymnasium, which, by the 

 by, is fast becoming one of the institutions of the coun- 

 try, together with horsemanship, should, by forming reg- 

 ular habits of exercise, render the present generation of 

 young men a more hardy race than their fathers. 



In Irving' s "Life of Washington " we find the following 

 sketch of his boyhood : "He was a self-disciplinarian in 

 physical as well as mental matters and practiced himself 

 in all kinds of athletic exercises, such as running, leaping, 

 wrestling, pitching quoits and tossing bars. His frame 

 even in infancy had been large and powerful and he now 

 excelled most of his playmates in contests of agility and 

 strength. As a proof of his muscular power a place is 

 still pointed out at Fredericksburg, near the lower ferry, 

 where when a boy he flung a stone across the Rappahan- 

 nock. In horsemanship, too, he already excelled, and 

 was ready to back and able to manage the most fiery 

 steed. Traditional anecdotes remain of his achievements 

 in this respect." 



We would suggest to farmers, who raise horses for the 

 market, the importance of having them educated for all 



