The Gentleman's Seat. 55 



body should rest naturally on the seat, or what 

 are called by anatomists_, the Ischium bones. 

 There must be no perceptible effort to sit thus at 

 ease; for ease and effort are, in this conjunction 

 more especially, antagonistic. And the learner 

 may know that all the time he finds it necessary 

 to use much effort he has not acquired an easy, 

 and therefore natural, seat. Let the legs hang at 

 ease by the horse's side, without any contraction 

 of the muscles. To use an expression understood 

 in this application, he should " hang them out to 

 dry." The only exception to the complete aban- 

 donment of all muscular control over the lower 

 extremities is the foot, the toes of which should 

 be raised and the heel depressed. It is true this 

 action will contract and brace the muscles of the 

 legs, but will not interfere with their easy and 

 natural position. 



