824 ARMY FARRIERS AND SHOEING SMITHS. 
periodically pared and thinned with the drawing knife, and, 
in this way, not only consult and pamper their own whims 
and fancies, but are somewhat instrumental, by this example, 
in causing the farrier to foster his prejudices, and to look 
with a degree of incredulity on what he calls an innovation 
in the art. After crediting the acting shoeing smith with a 
knowledge of some of his minor duties, detailed above, we 
have often observed an inability to anything but a tardy 
advance ; he cannot get on ; all the advice summoned to 
encourage him falls as far short of its purpose as does in- 
struction, no matter how often or how practically offered ; 
here he will remain month after month, and, it may be, year 
after year, without being in the slightest actuated by motives 
of emulation. Examinations at even long intervals furnish 
unsatisfactory results. Many curious specimens of horse- 
shoes have we seen turned by men in this grade, of four, five, 
and six years’ experience, and many, very many shoes have 
we caused to be doubled up, for re-turning, from the hammers 
of each grade, including that of farriers. 
An acting shoeing smith represents the apprentice of civil 
life to the art of making, fitting and applying shoes, except- 
ing that there may be a difference of from six to eight, or 
perhaps ten years in their respective ages, at the time when 
they commence to learn. They who have served apprentice- 
ships previous to enlisting, who have been taught from an 
early and tractable age, are, as a rule, the best workmen, for 
with them has grown the art which is so very difficult to 
acquire after maturity and surrounding circumstances have 
framed the body and mind. 
A tradesman invariably finds his way above his contem- 
porary of army origin, because his early training has rendered 
him much more handy in the forge, and perhaps affords him 
a better opportunity for giving his attention toother matters; 
this latter part of the advantage we cannot say is worthy of 
much dependence, it may be more imaginative than real. 
The art of shoeing, &c., obeys precisely the same laws as 
do other arts, requiring early and continuous training and 
zealous practice under competent teachers. In combination 
with this subject we would recommend the perusal of Mr. 
Fleming’s remarks at the 12th and 13th pages of the Veteri- 
narian for January, 1870, or the whole of his observations 
on the Horse’s Foot and his “ Horse-shoes and Horse- 
shoeing.” 
Against all that we have said, some exceptions must be 
admitted, which, however, need not be produced. The system, 
per se, has nothing to recommend it, but possesses almost 
