CORRESPONDENCE. 273 



Normandy ride thus, as well as the Indian 

 squaws, and certainly these will compare 

 favourably as to robust health with their side- 

 saddle sisters of civilisation; to say nothing 

 of the South American ladies. We have alsa 

 the testimony of many lady travellers as to 

 the superiority of a cross-seat when horseback 

 is the only mode of transit. I cannot admit 

 that in any case, even for *^ short women *' or 

 " little girls," it would be *' most objection- 

 able," that is, from a hygienic point of view. 

 On the score of modesty, de gustihus, &c. &c. 

 But then I allow a great latitude on such a 

 point (our highest order carries the truest 

 motto, Ifioni soit qui mal y pense). In fact, I do 

 not regard it as a question of modesty at all ; 

 simply of convenience, efficiency, and com- 

 fort. Mrs. O'Donoghue also says how rare it 

 is to meet with a perfect lady's horse. *^ In 

 all my wide experience I have met but two." 

 Why ? because a lady (and mainly on account 

 of her side-seat, as I beheve) is heavily 

 handicapped as compared with a man in her 

 choice of a horse, or, I should say, in her 

 requirements from her horse. Every remark 



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