A Sportsman at Large 67 



fountain. The boat will lose her pace, and appear almost to 

 stop between the strokes. 



It has been said that the difference between good and bad 

 steering round " Grassy Corner " on the Cam, amounts to 

 the gain or loss respectively of from one to one and a half 

 lengths. 



It is a remarkable but undoubted fact, that comparatively 

 few professional jockeys have " hands," and that in this 

 respect, the amateur rider makes the better show. It is 

 interesting to watch a large field sweeping past the stands 

 when cantering to the post. You will have no difficulty in 

 spotting " hands " or the want of them. I have always 

 considered that the snaffle is the excuse for bad hands, and 

 I am good to support that view. 



I have ridden horses of all sorts to hounds ; from the 

 " blood 'un " to the weight carrying cob, and in summer 

 time have used some of them as cavalry chargers with my 

 Yeomanry. I never had a real crash, and my bones retained 

 their pristine soundness to the end of my hunting career. I 

 do not think anyone could or would accuse me of not riding 

 straight to hounds. That was " hands " again ! " Hands " 

 of the moral variety are required for hunting hounds just as 

 they are for controlling bodies of one's fellow men and 

 women, though here the term applied to the natural gift is 

 tact. But the connection is clear. What a deal of trouble, 

 unrest and discontent can be caused by a tactless officer in 

 dealing with all beneath him in rank. Per contra how 

 pleasant and smooth military service may be under one who 

 possesses this most desirable quality. 



' The eye follows the brain, and the hand follows the eye," 

 is the elemental instruction of gun and musketry experts. 

 One who has not the advantage of " hands " will never be 

 a dependable shot, whether he be drawing a bead on a figure 

 target or on an advancing Hun, or whether he be swinging 

 on to a driven grouse or partridge, or snapping a quick-rising 

 snipe he will press the trigger with a nervous jerk which 

 completely upsets the alignment and windage allowances. 



The steering of motor cars and boats, launches, yachts 

 and larger craft also requires " hands," and in some cases 



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