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CHAPTER XV.
CARRIAGES.
MANY of the carriages illustrated here are of distinctly English origin, and, in consequence, their admirers are charged with Anglomaniacism.
Is it not absurd that persons should exist in this nineteenth century so narrow-minded as to deny the presence of good in anything foreign ?
Our English cousins have considered the subject of equipage for years, and have achieved many practical results. England and France have until recently surpassed all other countries in the construction and production of carriages. It is therefore quite right and proper for us to profit as far as possible by their experience, to the extent of reproducing such vehicles as may be useful and practical.
It seems probable that America will before long be foremost in the driving world. Her builders are fully equal, if not superior, to those on the other side of the water. The native woods are the best procurable, and if it were not for the high cost of production the importation of foreign-made carriages would be practically nil.
In order to criticise any vehicle impartially, it is necessary to know and understand the uses for which it is intended. The light country station wagon is as much out of place in our city streets as the landau would be if used on some of our sandy country roads.
The excessive weight of English carriages is a subject of comment, and perhaps somewhat justly so in many cases. There is an old saying that âin order to drive handsomely one must drive heavily,â and this is pretty generally borne out, provided the word handsomely is properly applied. A young girl in a simple muslin gown may be very prettily and attractively dressed, oftentimes more so than her sister whose gown is a handsome and expensive production from the hands of the celebrated Worth; but while one sister is prepared to attend a formal function, the other is on the way to a small lawn party. Each is therefore appropriately dressed. The handsome gown would look out of place where the pretty one is suitable, and vice versa.
The light trotting wagon of purely American origin bears somewhat the same relation to the victoria, for example, as did the sistersâ gowns to one another. Each is suited to the purpose for which it is designed: the handsome victoria to the formal drive or call, and the pretty and attractive trotting wagon to a delightful spin on a good boulevard or country road.
A few years ago the supporter of the road wagon made game of the heavier vehicles, and the advocates of the latter type were equally sarcastic. Time has wrought some changes, however, for we find many men of means and taste indulging in both the heavy and light harness types, keeping each class distinct and yet turning both out well. To such an end as this the present work is directed. If more vehicles of the heavier type are illustrated, it is simply because there happen to be more standard carriages of that sort in general use.
Weight, by the way, in a carriage does not necessarily mean a heavy draught where the roads are good, for a heavily loaded four-in-hand coach, well constructed, will run with comparatively little exertion on the part of the horses.
The side-bar wagon is one of the few examples of a standard vehicle which is peculiarly identified with this country. For a quarter of a century it has changed very little in general shape, and is not likely to do so for some time to come. Fashion at one time dictated that the lining should be green and the tops have three bows; at another, blue with four bows, etc. To-day the design of the vehicle is almost unvarying, but each owner exercises his individual taste as to colours and trimming, which is much the more rational principle.
The reason for this consistency is found in the practicality of the road wagon for its purpose, combining, as it does lightness, strength, and a shape which is in keeping with the swinging stride of the trotter pure and simple.
A number of heavier carriages have become standard in much the same manner, and a rapid departure from the designs which have been in use for many years is generally unsuccessful. The introduction of an entirely new vehicle is sometimes a benefit, more frequently a detriment.
Almost every enthusiastic owner in the early part of his career is seized with invention in the embryo state, and is not satisfied until he has evolved some abortion in the way of a carriage which shall be noticed. He generally succeeds in achieving this end, and presents his production to the view of his unfortunate friends with the air of a conqueror. Unless he is a crank, however, he will appreciate the error of his ways within a few years, and will hide his diminished head when the subject of his chef dâoeuvre is mentioned.
Any changes in existing designs of carriages which give more symmetry of outline or improvement in construction should be welcomed. A close observer will note that such improvements are quite often brought about by simplification, but very rarely by elaboration. Take, for example, the âsedanâ broughams and the cabriolets which have been introduced within the past few years, and are what might be termed elaborations of standard carriages; even the casual observer realizes that these carriages must be relegated to the hack stands long before their period of usefulness is accomplished, the only question being whether the hackmen will have them at any price.
The more eccentric the type, the shorter lived it is and the sooner it must be supplanted. This qualit...
