MODES OF TRAVELLING. 



bodies of three stage coaches joined together. The open 

 passenger trucks were the cause of much misery, and a 

 few deaths from exposure, before they were somewhat 

 improved ; but even then there was evidently a dread of 

 making them too comfortable, so a roof was put to them, 

 also seats, and the sides a little raised but open at the 

 top, about equal in comfort to our present cattle trucks. 

 At last, after a good many years, the despised third-class 

 passengers were actually provided with carriages of the 

 early second-class type; and it is only in comparatively 

 recent times that the greater railway companies realized 

 the fact that third-class passengers were so numerous as 

 to be more profitable than the other two combined, and 

 that it was worth while to give them the same comfort, 

 if not the same luxury, as those who could afford to 

 travel more expensively. 



The continuous progress in speed and comfort is mat- 

 ter of common knowledge, and nothing more need be 

 said of it here. The essential point for our consideration 

 is, the fundamental and even revolutionary nature of 

 the change that has been wholly, effected during the 

 present century. In all previous ages the only modes of 

 travelling or of conveying goods for long distances were 

 by employing either men or animals as the carriers. 

 Wherever the latter were not used all loads had to be 

 carried by men, as is still the case over a large part of 

 Africa, and as was the case over almost the whole of 

 America before its discovery by the Spaniards. 



But throughout Europe and Asia the horse was do- 

 mesticated in very early times, and was used for riding 

 and in drawing war chariots ; and throughout the Middle 

 Ages pack-horses were in universal use for carrying 



