Hands 109 



point I may be pardoned for again making a personal 

 allusion. 



When I began riding to hounds, with no qualifications 

 whatever except seat, which I had acquired riding farm- 

 horses, colts, and an Indian pony bareback when I was quite 

 young, I soon discovered that every horse I rode to 

 hounds took to pulling. I was indebted to Mr. Thomas 

 Hitchcock, Jr., for my first lesson in holding the reins, 

 which, needless to say, had been in the beginning after 

 the usual American style. This was the sportsmanlike way 

 in which he went about it. Instead of taking me to 

 account personally, he read a lecture to one of his grooms 

 one day in my presence on the shocking bad hands he had 

 which were, as a matter of fact, an exact reproduction of 

 my own style of holding the reins. Mr. Hitchcock next 

 showed him how to hold them properly, and gave the 

 reasons. It was a lecture from the shoulder, and I remem- 

 ber feeling rather sorry for the groom, until I remarked 

 that he was taking it all in with something of a knowing 

 smile on his face. That Mr. Hitchcock was never heard 

 to correct a man in the presence of other people, and that 

 the groom in question had been with him several years, 

 came to my knowledge later ; but the lesson had the desired 

 effect. It was my first lesson, and, as I look back upon it, 

 I think the most important lesson I have ever had. I men- 

 tion it to show that I have reason to know whereof I speak 

 in comparing English and American styles of holding the 

 reins. 



A year or so later a very practical demonstration of hands 

 was given to me when I learned to drive four and tandem. 



