COEKESPONDENCE. 271 



Sib, — I cannot but feel flattered that Mrs. 

 O'Donoghue has so frankly and kindly invited 

 me to ^' break a lance " with her. I do, with 

 l^oth my hands and with all my heart, recipro- 

 cate her *^warm shake-hands," and, vizor 

 down and spear in rest, ride full tilt at her in 

 fair and open fight to do my poor devoirs^ if 

 you will allow me once again to enter the 

 lists in your paper. If Mrs. O'Donoghue will 

 read her paper in your number for November 

 27th she will find these words: *^My com- 

 panion was in ease while I was in torture.'* 

 Why was this? '^Because he had a leg on 

 either side of his mount, his weight equally 

 distributed, and an equal support upon both 

 sides ; in fact, he had, as all male riders have, 

 the advantage of a double support in the rise ; 

 consequently, at the moment when his weight 

 was removed from the saddle, it was thrown 

 upon both sides, and this equal distribution 

 enabled him to accomphsh without fatigue that 

 slow rise and fall which is so tiring to a lady 

 whose weight, when she is out of the saddle, is 

 thrown entirely upon one dehcate limb, thus 

 inducing her to fall again as soon as possible," 



