THE PHAETON.

279

wanting instances in which squandered fortunehas placed the gentleman Jehu on the box of areal stage-coach as a dernier resort.

It is not difficult to trace this predilection to itssource in childhood. A whip in the hand of ayoungster is sufficient to give a bias to his mind;his training for the turf or the course will followas effect follows cause; the moment he is re-leased from the shackles of restraint, he will com-mence his career, and the Four-in-hand Club mayprobably finish what the toy began.

It may be, that this whip and spur speed of ourriders and drivers had its origin in Rousseau'snotion, that motion accelerated thought: for itis certain that pacing up and down the room hashelped many an author to a word or a thoughtas well as it did the philosopher; when gnawingand twitching his pen, or fidgetting on his seat, hasfailed.

In this view it would be perverse indeed not towish success to our phaetons, young or old, in