48 Rules of the Road. 



the same time, passing, by superior speed, an- 

 other, she must leave the first, on her left, and the 

 second, on her right. 



It will not be inexpedient, under the present 

 head, to make some observations as to which side 

 the lady should take, when riding in company 

 with a gentleman. Adams, a teacher of equita- 

 tion, and the author of a work on the. subject, 

 remarks, that the only inducements for a gentle- 

 man to ride on the left of a lady, would be, that, 

 by having his light hand towards her, in case of 

 her needing assistance, he might the more readily 

 and efficiently, be enabled to aiford it, than if he 

 were on the opposite side ; and should any dis- 

 arrangement occur in the skirt of her habit, he 

 might screen it until remedied. Also you are 

 situated next the carriages, and the various ob- 

 jects you meet, which, in narrow roads, or pass- 

 ing near, might intimidate a lady. On the other 

 hand, our author observes, with great good sense, 

 though in terms somewhat homely, — addressing, it 

 is to be noticed, his remarks to gentlemen, — " the 

 inconvenience of riding on the left of the lady, is, 

 that if you ride near, to give her any assistance, 

 you are liable to rub, or incommode, the lady's 

 legs, and alarm her: and the spur is liable to 

 catch, or tear, the lady's habit : if the roads are 



