COERESPONDENCE. 293 



the common livery-stable hacks, it is often 

 painful to ride them until they feel that you 

 ;are provided with spurs, when their whole 

 nature appears to change, and you can enjoy 

 a tolerably pleasant ride. '' The Ladybird " 

 ;says she was taught '^that a horse can do 

 no wrong." As a matter of theory the idea 

 is a very pretty one, but I can only say, as a 

 simple matter of fact, that I have often 

 known a horse exhibit a very large amount of 

 what the late Mr. Artemus Ward called 

 ^' cussedness " ; and I know of nothing that, 

 when a horse is in that frame of mind, will 

 bring him to his senses so quickly, so effec- 

 tually, and with so much convenience to the 

 rider, as a sharp spur. In far-off lands, I was 

 once nearly two hours doing a distance of 

 some seven miles on a new purchase. I was 

 then without spurs ; but the next day, when 

 I was provided with them, the same animal 

 did the same distance easily and pleasantly in 

 about forty minutes. I very much dishke to 

 see a lady use a whip to her horse : and, as I 

 have always proved spurs to be a great con- 

 venience, I recommeud a lady to wear one, 



