CORRESPONDENCE. 219 



mode of action may be open to objection, is it 

 not better (seeing that it is frequently effica- 

 cious) than sitting quietly and permitting 

 one's-self to be fallen back upon, without 

 making any effort to avert the catastrophe ? 

 My objection to the shpper-stirrup is founded 

 on the knowledge that it encourages ladies to 

 lean their weight upon it. ^* It feels so com- 

 fortable," I heard a lady say, '^ so like a 

 resting-board beneath my foot, th^ I cannot 

 help riding from it." An iron stirrup with the 

 foot well home is the proper thing to ride in ; 

 and remember it is from the instep and not 

 from the toes that you should rise. The iron 

 should meet the waist of the boot-sole, and a 

 long flat heel (I do not mean one of those 

 atrocities known as a high one) should be worn 

 on the boot. 



Jermyn. — Your letter almost answers itself. 

 The pad or pilch is apt to turn round, for it is 

 only one little girl in twenty. who sits straight. 

 You judge my meaning rightly about the 

 straight saddle, but I opine that it is the 

 stuffing which should be arranged to guard the 

 backbone from pressure, and that it is in no 



