FIRE HORSES. 237 
signal, and range himself alongside the pole, is not so 
difficult as might be imagined. We will suppose that 
a span of new horses are assigned to a certain engine, 
the old pair, as is the custom, being taken away at the 
same time. The surroundings are strange and more 
or less terrible to them, but they are handled very 
gently and carefully, and gradually lose their fears. 
The schooling begins at once, the driver being as- 
sisted by the othermen. The ordinary signal is given, 
as if for a fire; the stall doors open; the horses are 
led out, put in position, harnessed, and in a few min- 
utes led back; and then the process is repeated per- 
haps half a dozen times. Great pains are taken that 
the animals shall not strike against anything, or by 
any means become frightened. The unusual spectacle 
of a harness suspended in the air is apt to disturb them 
at first, but they are led slowly up to it, induced to 
smell of it, to inspect it on all sides, and thus to learn 
that it is perfectly harmless. In the same way they 
are made familiar with all the other objects about 
them, being continually patted and encouraged. 
The chief traits of the horse are the great strength 
of his memory, especially of his faculty of association, 
and his timidity. The fireman’s task, therefore, is 
first to convince his pupil, by gentle treatment, that 
no harm threatens him, and then to establish a con- 
nection in his mind between the proper signal, the 
opening of the stall door, and a progress thence to his 
station by the engine pole. After being led to their 
positions what it is thought may prove a sufficient 
number of times, the horses are allowed to come out at 
the signal of their own accord, a man standing behind 
to touch them up a little if they do not start promptly 
