Imatges de pàgina
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SAFE STIRRUPS

FOR THE ROAD.

CONCEIVING it possible that the few remarks which will follow in this and the succeeding lucubration, may, by accidentally catching the eye of some desultory reader, or unwary rider, happily save a neck, or prevent an untimely dispersion of the brains-" each a death to nature"I have determined to give these twin born glances of the moon, such extent of currency, as an attempt at introduction, by one unknown, can, under any propriety of feeling, be expected to procure for themBut, alas, my patent!!-gone, gone, for aye

-I am told, that some adventurer, far more alert, as it should seem, and more dexterous than myself, has procured a patent for the neck-saving stirrups, which I, originally, devised, and caused to be manufactured, some thirteen or fourteen years agone; in

which, and in which only, I was accustomed to ride; satisfied, that, to hang in said stirrups, if thrown--unless actually born for hanging-might be contemplated as an accident, not only opposed to all probability, but, as nearly as might be, impossible.

I had imagined this stirrup some years before I had it formed; and, I believe, that its extreme simplicity, the obviousness of its character, were the considerations which with-held me from attaching due importance to so easy an achievement. Perhaps it appeared so unlikely to have been missed, that I had hardly supposed it to be yet undiscovered. I forgot, that whatever partakes most of simplicity, connected with usefulness, is the rarest among the performances of art: and that, as Dr. Johnson has justly remarked, "what is obvious, is not always known."

A pencil will describe the stirrup better than a pen.-No more than this; the open side to be turned to that of the horse consequently the stirrup, as engraved, hangs for the left foot-the little upright

catch or stop, for the side of the foot, may, if judged desirable, be supplied with a

spring or hinge, to let it drop occasionally. Of this I had sometimes thought; but did not judge the provision necessary.— If the spring or hinge is neither too stiff, nor too weak, it is just within the line of possibility that an accidental contingence may illustrate some advantage in the contrivance. The stirrup is designed not for the field, but for the road: in the former it might become objectionable, because more likely to catch and admit entanglement in a hedge, if the foot should slip out, than is the entire stirrup. For the road, where its purpose would apply to an immeasurably greater reach of action, it is, I apprehend, the only stirrup, yet introduced, in which it is all but demonstratively impossible for a foot to be retained, and the man be dragged, when he is so unfortunate, so awkward, or so careless, as to vacate his seat, and come souse upon the ground.

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