19Z THE BEST SEASON ON RECORD. 



bal)ly aspires or cares to be. But, granted that she is 

 compelled to adhere for life to the cramped and un- 

 natural position invented in deference to the overwrought 

 sensitiveness of her grandmothers or grandfathers, she is 

 still at liberty — indeed, by instances lately so numerous 

 and appalling, she is almost forced — to seek some altera- 

 tion or adjustment of habit, that shall give her in some 

 measure immunity from needless and peculiar risk. 

 Without dwelling at length on a subject that of late has 

 become so painfully patent, or discussing details with 

 which I have no business to meddle in print, it is 

 sufficient to say that, here at all events, the sight of 

 ladies hanging head downward from their pommels has 

 come to be considered the most prominent evil in 

 connection with the hunting lield, and a standing 

 reproach against the custom and the ingenuity of the 

 day. Men of tolerable calibre will stand a number of 

 bad falls in their own person, without loss of nerve or 

 keenness. But they find that such accidents as are now 

 constantly befalling their lady relatives and friends upset 

 their equanimity and disturb their enjoyment far more 

 than any casualty to themselves. Having discovered 

 this, they find the voice of self-interest coming into play, 

 and bidding them bestir themselves for their own com- 

 fort's sake. Accordingly, there has recently been a 

 great outcry on the subject of habit-skirts. Lords, 

 masters, husbands, and admirers have all been exerting 

 themselves, and have had as much to say on the matter 

 as their respective positions would allow. The three 

 former — at any rate those whose rulershlp is not merely 



