LAWRENCE ON MASTERS AND SERVANTS. 13 



other driver between them to avoid it. It was not 

 the slippery shoes (objectionable as they undoubtedly 

 are) that did the harm in this case ; but the want 

 of a controlling power more efficient than the man's 

 arms, which only control the mouth of the horse 

 under any circumstances ; and, even then, only as 

 long as the horse chooses to submit, or is able to do 

 so. A man cannot ' pull a horse up ' with the reins 

 used as a mechanical power, any more than he can 

 get into a basket and raise himself from the ground 

 by lifting at the handles, as the principle is the 

 same ; but resistance thrown against the collar will 

 soon tell upon the horse's speed, and the means of 

 throwing it there by the application of friction to 

 both hind wheels (just short of making them 

 ' skid ') would do away with a great deal of the 

 present losses of life, and deterioration of valuable 

 property, put down to ' dangerous driving.' 



Conservatism is proverbially strong amongst horse 

 owners, and still more so with grooms and others 

 that surround the horse. In the last century, 

 Lawrence wrote : — ' There are some toils to which 

 even the rich must submit. True knowledge 

 is not to be acquired, or the acquisition to be 

 enjoyed, by deputy ; and, if gentlemen and large 

 proprietors of horses are desirous to avoid the diffi>-^ 

 cutties, dangers, and cruelties perpetually resulting 

 from prejudice, ignorance, and knavery combined, 

 they must embrace the resolution of making them- 

 selves so far master of the subject as to be able to 

 direct those whom they employ.' 



