COACH versus RAIIi. 



91 



born to be fleeced by a pack of merciless 

 hirelings. 



Ere you started on your journey, a porter 

 rushed up, and, whether permitted or not, seized 

 your carpet-bag or hat-box, and pitching them 

 into the boot, regardless of their contents, 

 would turn round and, with audacious effront- 

 ery, demand a fee for his trouble; ay, 

 and if he did not get it would abuse you 

 roundly to your face. Then, the dignity of 

 the box-seat ! " Nota quce secies fuerat columbis " 

 — pigeons they were, with a vengeance, that 

 occupied it. At what price was it purchased ! 

 Entailing a double fee — one to the porter for 

 casting your coat upon it, the other to the 

 coachman for the privilege of sitting with your 

 teeth in the wind, sharing his conversation, his 

 rug, and his seat. 



Talk not of the spicy team, the rattling 

 bars, which for short journeys in fine weather 

 was an agreeable way of travelling ; but for 

 distances the inside of a coach was almost 

 insupportable. Outside in Winter not much 

 better. 



Then, again, the great improvement in 

 travelling since the road gave way to the rail is 

 never more deeply felt and rejoiced at than at 



