ng kid gloves, of that precise shade of colour so approved
of by Madame Laffarge, he saunters forth on the Boulevard de Gand, or
lounges in the _coulisse_ of the opera.

The German, whose contempt not only extends to glove-leather, but
clean hands, betakes himself early in life to the way he should go,
and from which, to do him justice, he never shows any inclination to
depart. A meerschaum some three feet long, and a tobacco bag like a
school-boy's satchel, supply his wants in life. The dreamy visions of
the unreal woes, and the still more unreal greatness of his country,
form the pabulum for his thoughts; and he has no other ambition, for
some half dozen years of his life, than to boast his utter
indifference to kings and clean water.

Now, we manage matters somewhat better. Our young men, from the very
outset of their career, are admirable jockeys; and if by any fatality,
like the dreadful revolution of France, our nobles should be compelled
to emigrate from their native land, instead of teaching mathematics
and music, the small sword and quadrilles, we shall have the
satisfaction of knowing that we supply stable-boys to the whole of
Europe.

Whatever other people may say or think, I put a great value on this
equestrian taste. I speak not here of the manly nature of horse
exercise--of the noble and vigorous pursuits of the hunting field. No;
I direct my observations solely to the heroes of Ascot and Epsom--of
Doncaster and Goodwood. I only speak of those whose pleasure it is to
read no book save the Racing Calendar, and frequent no lounge but
Tattersall's; who esteem the stripes of a racing-jacket more
honourable than the ribbon of the Bath, and look to a well-timed
"hustle" or "a shake" as the climax of human ability. These are fine
fellows, and I prize them. But if it be not only praiseworthy, but
pleasant, to ride for the Duke's cup at Goodwood, or the Corinthian's
at the Curragh, why not extend the sphere of the utility, and become
as amiable in private as they are conspicuous in public life?

We have seen them in silk jackets of various hues, with leathers and
tops of most accurate fitting, turn out amid the pelting of a most
pitiless storm, to ride some three miles of spongy turf, at the hazard
of their necks, and the almost certainty of a rheumatic fever; and
why, donning the same or some similar costume, will they not perform
the office of postillion, when their fathers, or mayhap, some
venerated aunt, i