LEARNING. 



a perfect woman, but an angel of light and 

 goodness. Nor do I say this from any 

 toadyism, nor yet from the gratitude which I 

 must feel for her kindly favour toward myself. 

 I speak as I think and believe. Blessed with 

 a beauty rarely given to mortal, she combines 

 with it a sweetness of character and dis- 

 position, a womanly tenderness, and a 

 thoughtful and untiring charity, which deserve 

 to gain for her — as they have gained — the 

 hearts as well as the loving respect and 

 reverence of all with whom she has come in 

 contact. 



I was pleased to find, whilst conversing 

 with her, that many of my views about riding 

 were hers also, and that she considered it a 

 pity — as I Hkewise do — that so many lady 

 riders are utterly spoilt by pernicious and 

 ignorant teaching. I myself am of opinion 

 that childhood is not the best time to acquire 

 the art of riding. The muscles are too young, 

 and the back too weak. The spine is apt to 

 grow crooked, unless a second saddle be 

 adopted, which enables the learner to sit on 

 alternate days upon the off-side of the horse ; 



