Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-19
BOSTON GIRLS IN THE SADDLE.
How They Rode in the Past and Ride q,
Present.

How They Rode in the Past and Ride at
Present.
From the Boston Transcript.
A woman used to offer hostages to misfor-
tune when she mounted horse Twenty years
ago there was about everything possible done
to risk her neck when she set forth to take her
pleasure on the back of a wildish animal. Now,
with her short riding skirt and tailored trous-
ers, her straigh. seat saddle and her stirrup
that would fly open and release her foot in
stanty if she were thrown, the Maid of Athens
mounts and rides away in perfect safety A
joy forever is this girl to see. Go out around
the reservoir on o sunshiny morning or
a gray afternoon, and you will see
numbers Of girls riding, all with
that trig air Of good training and thorough
knowledge which is the first charm of a horse
woman: without it the costliest saddle and
bride, the best Hollander habit are nothing.
The first requisite for riding precedes this first
charm, and that of course is courage. If one
has an unconquerable timidity where horses
are concerned there's little use trying to
learn to ride. particularly if that one is girl
Boys are sometimes made courageous when
lacking this quality BY being put on horse.
But timidity Is likely to get on the nerves OF a
girl, and unless she is a fearless horsewoman
she will never be happy one. The truth is,
soIut Siri5 are Dorm 10 rue anu some are not.
1t is OF those who take to the saddle as natur-
ally as to the bathing suit or the tennis racquet
that these ont door notes are made.
You may see representative of this class
mount. Up goes one hand to her saddle; firmly
the other rests on the shoulder of him who
steady palm. Now A spring and she is up.
1t is not the old-fashioaed rocking-chair-s baped
saddle that is well girt upon her horses back
1t Is saddle straight as board, where she sits
upright i'll an absolutely natural position, with
no twisting of body or legs necessary and with
no effort demanded to keep erect while riding.
No chance to wrench the spine or get stitches
in the side, as with the old scoopish- shaped
saddle which went with the long, floating
skirts. the tall. ugly hats and the single reins
of the past. Now the lass who rides has DO IN
snafile and curb; although she may seldom use
the curb, tits well to have it at her command if
her horse is likely to object to electric cars or
sprinkling carts or other objects OF his wild
terror. She may ride with little spur ut her
heel too, and it is 4 very effective way to man
much. except for looks. Then crop is carried,
but there's no lash for the good steed.
''lts good horse you can ride with one of
those things" says u horseman. Il can do
more with a spur in a second than with a
whip in ten minutes"
The modern Guinevere is a different being
to see from the ono that Sir Launcelot rode be-
side ''in the boyhood OF the year" But III the
boyhood of g. when the New Riding Club il
in full swing. she will be quite as charming to
see, in her close cloth habit, as Tennysor i
queen, who, as she rode
"a gown OF grass-green silk she wore,
Buckled with golden clasps before;
light green tuft OF plumes she wore
Closed in golden ring" i -
Imagine Back Bay girl starting out dressed
like that for ride with her papa. Il Yet OF the
modern maid an appreciative cavalier may sag
too: - JB RI
..As she fed fast through sun and shade,
The happy winds upon her played,
Blowing the ringlet from the braid;
She looked so lovely as she swayed
The rein with dainty finger tips
A man had given all other bliss 1..
And all his worldly worth for this
To waste his whole heart
But there the modern cavalier cries "Hold
on!' to himself with the remembrance that the
| ringlet must not be allowed to escape from the
braid because 'tw0uld be untidy, and too. how
ever lovely she may look the Back BAY Guine-
we're does not sway her rein. She keeps her
dainty finger tips" firm; her shoulders back,
her "'eels and helbows down m spirits hup, .
as her riding master has instructed her.
Mistaken Identity,
| From Texas Siftings.
A man who had evidently arrived BY the
train walked into boarding house in "a Texas
| town and asked:
us Mr.. Day imp
''What Day, sab, ;" asked the porter.
"What do know about him? Do I looh
like detective? II Mr.. Day isn't in tell Mr..
Week TO step out here"
What Week do you refer to. sah?'