26 LADIES ON HOESEBACK. 



master who desired me to hold my whip 

 balanced in three fingers of my right hand, 

 point upwards, the hand itself being absurdly 

 bowed and the little finger stuck straight out 

 like a wooden projection. My natural good 

 sense induced me to rebel against anything 

 so completely ridiculous, and I quietly asked 

 my teacher why I was to carry my whip in 

 that particular position. His answer was — 

 " Oh, that you may have it ready to strike your 

 horse on the nech.'^ Shades of Diana ! this is 

 the way our daughters are taught in schools, 

 and we marvel that they show so little for the 

 heaps of money which we hopefully expend 

 upon them. 



Being then fairly seated upon your saddle, 

 your skirt drawn down and arranged by your 

 attendant, your reins in your hand and your 

 whip arranged, you must proceed to walk 

 your horse quietl around the enclosure, 

 having first gently drawn your bridle through 

 his mouth. You will feel very strange at 

 first : much as though you were on the back 

 of a dromedary and were completely at his 

 mercy. Sit perfectly straight and erect, but 



