RIDING-CLOTHES. 295 



both should be made to fit him, and kept scrupu- 

 lously clean. If top-boots are not worn, then 

 plain black or very dark gray trousers should be 

 used ; but gaiters are not de rigueur. They 

 savour of the market gardener, or of the man who 

 cleans the pigs and pony, and does the odd jobs " 

 generally. 



Let everything be in keeping. If the harness is 

 of brass, the buttons of your livery must be gilt ; 

 if plated, they, too, must be plated. The metal 

 fittings of your carriage and those of your harness 

 and livery must all correspond. 



It is attention to these little details which marks 

 the well turned-out equipage. If it is but a pony- 

 trap, let everything be as good, well fitting, and 

 well cleaned as it can possibly be. I have many a 

 time seen grooms wearing leather waist-belts when 

 sitting at the back of a dog-cart. Such is absurd. 

 The use of the belt arose from the old custom of 

 the groom wearing a spare stirrup-leather when 

 riding behind his master. What on earth, there- 

 fore, can be the use of a stirrup-leather in a dog-cart? 



Grooms when riding behind a lady should be 

 made to keep their proper distance of fifty yards, 

 and should always be on the watch to be ready 

 if required. Nothing can possibly look more dis- 

 respectful than to see a groom riding nearly along- 



