yo Chapters on Animals. 



The peaceful inhabitants of London have ideas about 

 cavalry horses which would be greatly modified by a week's 

 experience of Continental warfare. The British army re- 

 quires few horses in comparison with the vast numbers 

 which are absorbed by the forces of Germany or France, 

 so that there is wider latitude for selection, and no horse 

 which has the honour of carrying a British soldier is ever 

 publicly seen in his native land without having everything 

 that can affect his appearance entirely in his favour. The 

 man who rides him, though apparently his master, is in re- 

 ality his servant, as every youth who enters the ranks of a 

 cavalry regiment discovers when his young illusions fade. 

 All the things which the animal has to carry are, by the 

 craft and taste of the equipment-makers, turned into so 

 many ornaments ; and even when not positively beautiful 

 in themselves, are so devised as to enhance the martial ef- 

 fect, and make you feel that you are in the presence of a 

 war-horse. Bright steel and brass, in forms unused about 

 the saddlery of civilians ; furs and saddle-cloths, the latter 

 decorated with lace round the edges, and perhaps even em- 

 broidery in the corners; a luxury of straps and chains, a 

 massiveness peculiarly military ; all this strikes the civilian 

 imagination, and the battle-steed, even when not in him- 

 self a particularly perfect animal, has generally a noble 

 and imposing air. All his belongings are kept so clean 

 and bright that we respect him as a member of the ar- 

 istocracy of horses. He is brushed and groomed as if 

 he came from the stables of a prince. To these advan- 

 tages may be added that of his superior education, which 

 tells in every movement, and his pride, for he is proud 

 of all his superiorities, and the consciousness of them 

 gives grace to the curve of his neck, and fire to his eye, 

 and dignity to his disdainful stepping. 



