5 FEBRUARY 1916, Page 14

A HORSE'S RECOGNITION AT THE FRONT OF AN OLD FRIEND.

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:1 Sin,—The enclosed little story was told in a letter sent to one of this household, and on being shown the passage, I thought it might be as interesting to those of your readers who appreciate friendship between man and beast as it is to me. It is consoling to reflect that if Toby must be commandeered, there is a " Johnny N—" who joins the Rough Riders.—I am, Sir, &c., ELLEN MARY PROSSER. 28 Thicket Road, Anerley, S.E.

" Johnny N--- has been in France a long time with the Rough Riders ; that is, breaking in and doctoring horses. The Government took two of our horses twelve months ago for foreign service. We had a letter from John a while ago saying that Toby that he used to drive for us was brought into his stable to be fed up after being in the firing line. The strange thing about it was the poor horse knew John as soon as he went into the stable and started doing the little tricks that John had learnt him here. Johnny felt it very much to see him so much out of condition, but be was going to see to it that Toby always would get good feed while under his care. Johnny doesn't like the idea of Toby having to go back to the firing line when he is lit ; he would like to bring him home again."