COACHING 



The Four-in-Hand Club, founded in 1856, for many years 

 used to meet in the Park at quarter to five in the afternoon, 

 but the hour was changed to half-past twelve in order to avoid 

 the inconvenience inseparable from meeting at the time when 

 carriages are most numerous. 



The Coaching Club was founded in 1870, and held its first 

 meet at the Marble Arch in June the following year. 



SONG OF THE B.D.C.i 



You ask me, Gents, to sing a 



song, 

 Don't think me too encroaching. 

 I won't detain you very long, 

 With one of mine on Coachins:. 

 No rivalry we have to fear. 

 Nor jealous need we be. Sir, 

 We all are friends who muster here, 

 And in the B.D.C., Sir. 



Horace declares the Greeks of old 



Were once a driving nation ; 



But Shakespeare says ' The World 's 



a Stage "" — 

 A cutish observation. 

 The Stage he meant, good easy 



man. 

 Was drawn by nine old Muses ; 

 But the Mews for me is the B.D.C., 

 And that 's the stage I chooses. 



I call this Age the Iron Age 



Of Railways and Pretension, 



And coaching now is in a stage 



Of horrible declension. 



The day 's gone by when on the 



Fly 

 We roll'd to Alma Mater, 

 And jovial took the reins in hand 

 Of the Times or Regulator. 



1 Benson 



Those were the days when Peyton's 



grays 

 To Bedfont led the way, Sir, 

 And Villebois followed with his bays 

 In beautiful array. Sir. 

 Then Spicer, too, came next in view 

 To join the gay procession. 

 Oh ! the dust we made — the cavalcade 

 Was neat beyond expression. 



No Turnpike saw a fancy team 

 More neat than Dolphin sported. 

 When o'er the stones with Charley 



Jones 

 To Bedfont they resorted. 

 Few graced the box so much as Cox ; 

 But there were none, I ween, Sir, 

 Who held the reins 'twixt here and 



Staines 

 More slap up than the Dean, Sir. 



Those are the men who foremost then 



To Coaching gave a tone, Sir, 



And hold they will to coaching still, 



Tho' here they stand alone, Sir, — 



Then drink to the Coach, the B.D.C., 



Sir Henry and his team. Sir, 



And may all be Mowed right off the 



road 

 Who wish to go by steam. Sir. 



Driving Club, 

 91 



