438 CONDESCEND, BUT NEVER DESCEND. 



from riding with the same persons in a race. In either 

 situation they do not ride as companions of such per- 

 sons : we might as well wish to have one side of the 

 public street set apart for gentlemen. If in riding a 

 race a gentleman preserves the manners and conduct 

 of one, he need fear no contamination : if he does not 

 so conduct himself, the contamination might be feared 

 by the other party, if they do. A gentleman would 

 be no better four-in-hand man from learning the low 

 slang or adopting the manners of a stage-coachman, 

 nor would he be the better rider for adopting the 

 manners of some jockeys. A gentleman, avoiding 

 the common and most mistaken idea of some, that it 

 behoves them to be all in all the coachman or the 

 common jockey, might ride by the side of either all 

 his life, and would find them touch their hat to him 

 as respectfully afterwards as if he had not done so. 

 If a gentleman never farther derogates from his cha- 

 racter than by merely riding (if he would venture to 

 do so) in the same race with professional jockeys, he 

 will do well enough : if he thinks not, then (and 

 perhaps he does wiser) let him ride with his equals 

 only, and only in places where his equals do ride. 



Public race-courses are places for the amusement of 

 the public at large : that public all in some way do a 

 something that supports the races, for they all cause a 

 circulation of money there, consequently have a right 

 to be amused. Now I imagine gentlemen in riding 

 there do not contemplate amusing that public by 

 making Tommy Noodles of themselves ; and if they 

 fancy they gratify the public by their fine riding, I will 

 venture to say nine out of ten fail in the latter way, 

 however successful they maybe in tlio former; nnd 

 I must say I should strongly advise friends (and I 



