FIRST-HAND BITS OF STABLE LORE 



is he equipped who is au fait in such accomplish- 

 ments — with some thoroughly comprehended 

 trade to fall back upon if necessary — than the 

 young men who are annually turned forth in 

 thousands from our colleges with nothing but a 

 "sheepskin" to cover their nakedness, and left 

 trembling upon the threshold of a destiny with 

 which their average collegiate acquirements have 

 but illy fitted them to cope. That courses in 

 such matters are not open to the pupils of our 

 universities is matter for comment and reflection, 

 as is the fact that modern languages have, in com- 

 parison with the ancient, until recently formed but 

 an insignificant portion of the preliminary require- 

 ments and regular curriculum. 



Given the ambition to own a horse, and the 

 question of "means" affirmatively answered, the 

 obstacle of " ways " remains ; and many a Mr. 

 Neophyte has found, or fancied, this an insur- 

 mountable obstacle. Generally recourse is had to 

 Uncle John, whom family tradition has handed 

 down as a combination of the serpent and the 

 hawk in matters equine ; Cousin Will also knows 

 a man who is on terms of friendship with another 

 man who keeps several horses, and is therefore an 

 expert; grandma, according to the fairy-tales 



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