164 PEECEPT AND PRACTICE. 



be the case that all men, with a few exceptions, where 

 anything is done and another is accessary to its 

 accomplishment, endeavour to take all the credit of 

 the act to themselves, and wish it to be thought that 

 it is to their sagacity its being well done is owing ; 

 but in case of failure, they, liberally and magnani- 

 mously, are quite willing to throw all the blame of 

 failure on any other party concerned in it. They even 

 carry this into the hunting field : if an uncommon 

 leap has been taken, they wish it to be thought it 

 was by the joint effect of their head, hands, and 

 heels it was accomplished ; if they come down a 

 regular burster, they attribiite it to some unavoidable 

 cause, or to * the brute of a horse.' " 



"But,*' remarked Pupil, "I have heard men 

 eulogise their horses very much — affirm such a horse 

 to be remarkably clever- — state that another had 

 carried them a season or two without giving them a 

 fall." 



" You have heard sensible men do this who are 

 just enough to give the horse credit for the cleverness 

 and capability he possesses." 



