134 HINTS TO HOESEMEN ; OR, 



such case, I sliould say, accept the offer by all means, 

 as you might one for a picture or drawing done by 

 your own hand. Many would say she might be 

 proud of the two latter objects mentioned, as accom- 

 plishments ; no doubt she might ; nor is riding to 

 be in any way put on a par with them ; still, if she 

 rides gracefully and elegantly, I must hold it as a 

 minor accomplishment, to be indulged in as a relief 

 from others requiring more mind in their execution. 

 This I must say, I have seen many women, who 

 were by no means refined in a general way, ride ex- 

 tremely well ; but I never saw one who was not more 

 or less graceful in her usual deportment, that rode 

 like a gentlewoman. 



Driving is another amusement a lady may take 

 without in any way derogating from the softness of 

 her sex : a low phaeton, with well-matched and per- 

 fectly-broken ponies, galloways, or even light blood- 

 horses, is a pretty corUge; but from a woman driving 

 a pair of spanking bays at " a slap-up pace,'* the 

 Lord defend us ! "We might fairly expect to hear 

 her make use of the slang expression I have quoted ; 



