118 'hIXTS to nOESEMEN; OR, 



coaching reminiscence) the wisest thing I can do is 

 to say, " AU right !" 



There are few situations in which we could place 

 horses where the master-hand shows its effects on them, 

 more than with a four-in-hand ; the matching them 

 well as to step and action, the bitting each in accord- 

 ance with his mouth, the placing to suit the temper 

 of each, just makes the difference between each and 

 all being admired, or each and all going nohow ; 

 between their sliding along the road as a united 

 body, or jostling all over it comparatively like four 

 pigs with four separate strings to their legs ; it makes 

 the difference of the vehicle progressing smooth as 

 a duck through water, or rolling about like an ill- 

 built Dutch boat in a rough sea. But, as in man}^ 

 other things, these are secrets, or rather facts, only 

 known to the ancients ; the art is lost, the craft are 

 gone. Whether we shall see gentlemen practising 

 and officiating as stokers, I know not ; but their 

 giving up their four-in-hands was at one time a cir- 

 cumstance as little dreamt of. 



Where so much was to be done by the artist, the 



