rUECHASING HORSES. 165 



"But," persevered the other, *'I have heard all 

 sorts of men boast of the goodness of their horses."' 



" Doubtless you have ; but, let me tell you, many 

 of these mean the praise to be understood in about 

 the same way in which a workman praises his tools. 

 The carpenter may say, * This is a capital chisel ;' the 

 engraver, * This is a capital graver ;' but, depend on it, 

 both workmen mean the merit to be attributed chiefly 

 to their being perfectly masters of their business, be 

 that hunting, carpentering, or engraving." 



"But does not thus underrating the tools lower 

 their estimated value in the eyes of other people ?" 



'' Not a bit. Such superior workmen as these are 

 (or pretend to be), will tell you they never use any 

 but the best and most valuable tools that are to be 

 found ; and a great value they put on them, as you 

 would find if you attempted to become a purchaser. 

 But, with such superior tools to work with, they still 

 wish it to be thought it is their own superior handi- 

 craft that produces the work so much to be admired. 

 Remember, I am not alluding to sensible men and 

 good sportsmen, but to the many young, conceited, 



