NING. 17 



looked for and must occur. The padding over 

 the instep causes the foot to become firmly 

 imbedded, and in the event of an accident the 

 consequences are dire, for the mechanism of 

 the stirrup is almost invariably stiff or out of 

 order, or otherwise refuses to act. Mr. Old- 

 acre was, I believe, the inventor of the padded 

 stirrup, and for this we owe him or his 

 memory little thanks, although the gratitude 

 of all lady riders is undoubtedly due to him 

 for his admirable invention and patenting of 

 the third crutch, without which our seat in 

 the saddle would be far less comfortable and 

 less secure. 



I dare say that I shall have a large section 

 of aggrieved stirrup-makers coming down 

 upon me with the phials of their wrath for 

 giving pubHcity to this opinion, but in writing 

 as I have done I merely state my own views, 

 which I deem we are all at liberty to do ; and 

 looking upon my readers as friends, I warn 

 them against an article of which I myself 

 have had wofiil experience. I once pur- 

 chased a safety stirrup at one of the best 

 houses, and made by one of the best makers. 



2 



