Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-08-24
41THE sIDE-sADDLE.
shall women stiII Use It9

We admit that women looks graceful
in the side1sadales ibut it is plain that il
sitting sideways on horse she is placed
to great disadvantage, 1t is difficult
for her to control d vicious animal and
in a hard run or a bold leap, her seat
must be unsteady. The position is con-
strained and fafignihg, and in case Of
losing her balance, she is in danger Of
being caught and dragged BY the horse
Her long skirt is always in the way, and
it often proves-a q moose of death. The
side,saddle represents one Of. the Oldest
traditions of equestrianship. and there.
fore it will not be surrendered without a
stubborn fight. We can scarcely expect
woman toform so beautiful a picture with
each foot in a stirrup; bnt then if the
change ever does take place,we will grow
accustomed to 1t as we have grown famil.
lar with other innovations. The pannier
and the waterfall detract from the fair
proportions Of the female form; still
now that they have. come into general
use, they no longer seem odd to us.
That to which the majority subscribe is
| notaconspicuous The thing may have
been novel at first, and possibly It's in
PRODUCTION created sensation; but
when expanded into a custom, sensation
ends, and then we marvel how it ever
could have seemed strange, and have
excited ridicule and opposition. Old
and dear as arel the traditions of the
side-saddle, we can, part with them, and
in time will learn not to stand and gape
when woman sweeps past us mounted
ON horse and riding astraddle.1 9oiias'
Let the innovation become custom,
and then if we wonder at all, it viii be
at the thought that the barbarous prac.
tice should have lived through so many
centuries. To give up the side-saddlc il
Ito blur certain lines of grace, and to
slightly mar beautiful picture, but we
can afford to sacrifice much on the score
| Of safety and comfort. The side-saddle,
| generally speaking, is an instrument oil
torture to the horse; it is the cause Of
many serious accidents, and the fair
rider carries her life in her hand, as it
were. A sudden plunge, or stumble
and the woman, wrapped in her long
skirt, goes to the earth, 1t is unmanly
to insist that the fair partners Of our
bosoms should always be kept at dis.
advantage. We men should not compel
them to constantly face a danger that
we shrink from ourselves.
The use of the side.saddle is long
established. d, The custom is deep-rooted
and to abolish it will require both tact
and nerve. Reform must commence in
the highest ranks of society, and when
a woman first ventures TO ride with each
foot in a stirrup, she must not advertise
the fact in advance. To make such
an announcement as will call out gaping
crowds, is a sure way to oVerwhelm the
movement with ridicule. Even the
courtesan would not have the face tc
ride boldly over the rude sarcasm Of the
mob. How, then, can we expect re
| fined and shrinking woman to go forth
and defy the rabble2 Central Park il
I not the place to inaugurate the move
ment against the side.saddle, The first
venture must be made in more secluded
spot. A private domain, like Blooming
Grove Park, is best suited to the pur.
pose, This park is owned by q club OF
gentlemen who are fond of field sports.
The members occupy leading positions
in the ranks of society, and therefore
their wives and daughters have thepower
to stamp q new movement with the seal
of fashion. No vulgar crowd straggle
among the pines to gather around and
cast ridicnlea upon anything that
pure and refined woman may at
tempt. The grounds are being inn
proved all the while. The clubhouse,
located on the hill which slopes
gently down to the pebbly beach Of
Lake Giles, is being built. 1t will be
finished by the first of April, and already
"a number of gentlemen have made ar
raagements to spend the summer at the
park with their families. As the club
membership is exclusive, the society at
the park next summer must necessarily
be exclusive. The very place is sug-
gestive of such health-giving sports as
rowing, archery, pistol-shooting and
horseback-riding; and while the ladies
are learning to row and shoot, they can
start the custom Of riding as Grace
Greenwood rode in the Yosemite Valley
1t may prove small beginning, but then
it will be a beginning. and that is an inn
portant step in all reform movements. \
Mr.. Giles, the President Of the Blooming
Grove Park Associ alton, favors the idea,
and next summer he will do his best TO
have ladies Of unquestionable social po-
sition try the experiment of riding
astraddle up among the shady pines Of
Pennsylvania In fact in joining in
the chase up there, woman's safety i'm
peratiyely demands that she shall ride
with two feet in the stirrups. We hope
the experiment will prove successful.
In the name Of humanity, TO woman and
the horse, we say down with the side
saddle vf slful1f f-t