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Absolutely and literally； he is the only individual in Doncaster
who stands by the brink of the full…flowing race…stream； and is not
swept away by it in common with all the rest of his species。 Who
is this modern hermit； this recluse of the St。 Leger…week； this
inscrutably ungregarious being； who lives apart from the amusements
and activities of his fellow…creatures？ Surely； there is little
difficulty in guessing that clearest and easiest of all riddles。
Who could he be； but Mr。 Thomas Idle？
Thomas had suffered himself to be taken to Doncaster； just as he
would have suffered himself to be taken to any other place in the
habitable globe which would guarantee him the temporary possession
of a comfortable sofa to rest his ankle on。 Once established at
the hotel； with his leg on one cushion and his back against
another； he formally declined taking the slightest interest in any
circumstance whatever connected with the races； or with the people
who were assembled to see them。 Francis Goodchild； anxious that
the hours should pass by his crippled travelling…companion as
lightly as possible； suggested that his sofa should be moved to the
window； and that he should amuse himself by looking out at the
moving panorama of humanity； which the view from it of the
principal street presented。 Thomas； however； steadily declined
profiting by the suggestion。
'The farther I am from the window；' he said； 'the better； Brother
Francis； I shall be pleased。 I have nothing in common with the one
prevalent idea of all those people who are passing in the street。
Why should I care to look at them？'
'I hope I have nothing in common with the prevalent idea of a great
many of them； either；' answered Goodchild； thinking of the sporting
gentlemen whom he had met in the course of his wanderings about
Doncaster。 'But； surely； among all the people who are walking by
the house； at this very moment； you may find … '
'Not one living creature；' interposed Thomas； 'who is not； in one
way or another； interested in horses； and who is not； in a greater
or less degree； an admirer of them。 Now； I hold opinions in
reference to these particular members of the quadruped creation；
which may lay claim （as I believe） to the disastrous distinction of
being unpartaken by any other human being； civilised or savage；
over the whole surface of the earth。 Taking the horse as an animal
in the abstract； Francis； I cordially despise him from every point
of view。'
'Thomas；' said Goodchild； 'confinement to the house has begun to
affect your biliary secretions。 I shall go to the chemist's and
get you some physic。'
'I object；' continued Thomas； quietly possessing himself of his
friend's hat； which stood on a table near him； … 'I object； first；
to the personal appearance of the horse。 I protest against the
conventional idea of beauty； as attached to that animal。 I think
his nose too long； his forehead too low； and his legs （except in
the case of the cart…horse） ridiculously thin by comparison with
the size of his body。 Again； considering how big an animal he is；
I object to the contemptible delicacy of his constitution。 Is he
not the sickliest creature in creation？ Does any child catch cold
as easily as a horse？ Does he not sprain his fetlock； for all his
appearance of superior strength； as easily as I sprained my ankle！
Furthermore； to take him from another point of view； what a
helpless wretch he is！ No fine lady requires more constant
waiting…on than a horse。 Other animals can make their own
toilette： he must have a groom。 You will tell me that this is
because we want to make his coat artificially glossy。 Glossy！
Come home with me； and see my cat； … my clever cat； who can groom
herself！ Look at your own dog！ see how the intelligent creature
curry…combs himself with his own honest teeth！ Then； again； what a
fool the horse is； what a poor； nervous fool！ He will start at a
piece of white paper in the road as if it was a lion。 His one
idea； when he hears a noise that he is not accustomed to； is to run
away from it。 What do you say to those two common instances of the
sense and courage of this absurdly overpraised animal？ I might
multiply them to two hundred； if I chose to exert my mind and waste
my breath； which I never do。 I prefer coming at once to my last
charge against the horse； which is the most serious of all； because
it affects his moral character。 I accuse him boldly； in his
capacity of servant to man； of slyness and treachery。 I brand him
publicly； no matter how mild he may look about the eyes； or how
sleek he may be about the coat； as a systematic betrayer； whenever
he can get the chance； of the confidence reposed in him。 What do
you mean by laughing and shaking your head at me？'
'Oh； Thomas； Thomas！' said Goodchild。 'You had better give me my
hat； you had better let me get you that physic。'
'I will let you get anything you like； including a composing
draught for yourself；' said Thomas； irritably alluding to his
fellow…apprentice's inexhaustible activity； 'if you will only sit
quiet for five minutes longer； and hear me out。 I say again the
horse is a betrayer of the confidence reposed in him； and that
opinion； let me add； is drawn from my own personal experience； and
is not based on any fanciful theory whatever。 You shall have two
instances； two overwhelming instances。 Let me start the first of
these by asking； what is the distinguishing quality which the
Shetland Pony has arrogated to himself； and is still perpetually
trumpeting through the world by means of popular report and books
on Natural History？ I see the answer in your face： it is the
quality of being Sure…Footed。 He professes to have other virtues；
such as hardiness and strength； which you may discover on trial；
but the one thing which he insists on your believing； when you get
on his back； is that he may be safely depended on not to tumble
down with you。 Very good。 Some years ago； I was in Shetland with
a party of friends。 They insisted on taking me with them to the
top of a precipice that overhung the sea。 It was a great distance
off； but they all determined to walk to it except me。 I was wiser
then than I was with you at Carrock； and I determined to be carried
to the precipice。 There was no carriage…road in the island； and
nobody offered （in consequence； as I suppose； of the imperfectly…
civilised state of the country） to bring me a sedan…chair； which is
naturally what I should have liked best。 A Shetland pony was
produced instead。 I remembered my Natural History； I recalled
popular report； and I got on the little beast's back； as any other
man would have done in my position； placing implicit confidence in
the sureness of his feet。 And how did he repay that confidence？
Brother Francis； carry your mind on from morning to noon。 Picture
to yourself a howling wilderness of grass and bog； bounded by low
stony hills。 Pick out one particular spot in that imaginary scene；
and sketch me in it； with outstretched arms； curved back； and heels
in the air； plunging headforemost into a black patch of water and
mud。 Place just behind me the legs； the body； and the head of a
sure…footed Shetland pony； all stretched flat on the ground； and
you will have produced an accurate representation of a very
lamentable fact。 And the moral device； Francis； of this picture
will be to testify that when gentlemen put confidence in the legs
of Shetland ponies； they will find to their cost that they are
leaning on nothing but broken reeds。 There is my first instance …
and what have you got to say to that？'
'Nothing； but that I want my hat；' answered Goodchild； starting up
and walking restlessly about the room。
'You shall have it in a minute；' rejoined Thomas。 'My second
instance' … （Goodchild groaned； and sat down again） … 'My second
instance is more appropriate to the present time and place； for it
refers to a race…horse。 Two years ago an excellent friend of mine；
who was desirous of prevailing on me to take regular exercise； and
who was well enough acquainted with the weakness of my legs to
expect no very active compliance with his wishes on their part；
offered to make me a present of one of his horses。 Hearing that
the animal in question had started in life on the turf； I declined
accepting the gift with many thanks； adding； by way of explanation；
that I looked on a race…horse as a kind of embodied hurricane； upon
which no sane man of my character and habits could be expected to
seat himself。 My friend replied that； however appropriate my
metaphor might be as applied to race…horses in general； it was
singularly unsuitable as applied to the particular horse which he
proposed to give me。 From a foal upwards this remarkable animal
had been the idlest and most sluggish of his race。 Whatever
capacities for speed he might possess he had kept so strictly to
him