CONSTRUCTION. 75 



form of construction should indicate that lightness is desired ; 

 a brougham must be so made that solidity and comfort are 

 suggested as being the characteristics. The vehicle should 

 be practically heavy enough to fulfil the most important 

 requirements, but any extreme which is displeasing to the 

 eye must be modified to an extent which will convey a pleas- 

 ing impression of harmony and appropriateness. The same 

 holds true as applied to the separate parts. Wheels that are 

 or seem to be relatively too light or too heavy for the body, 

 or vice versa, detract from the effect of unity. 



The advantage of having a well designed carriage is two- 

 fold. First, if for any reason the carriage is sold, it will be 

 found that, being free from any of the absurdities of a special 

 period, a prospective purchaser will be more attracted to it 

 than to one which cannot conceal the date of its unfortunate 

 creation. Second, a carriage with a standing market value is 

 an asset, which may be advantageously turned to account It 

 may be as well to insert here a word regarding the approxi- 

 mate values that different vehicles command at auction. 

 Any vehicle sells for less at the end of its season than at the 

 beginning; i. e., a brougham would fetch less in June than 

 it would in October, while the reverse would be the case with 

 a victoria. The more expensive the type the fewer will be 

 the bidders ; and for this reason it often happens that a vic- 

 toria will not bring more than a gig. Unusual designs have 

 almost no market value. 



CONSTRUCTION. 



In construction the carriage should be as free as possible 

 from, any corners or pockets made by springs, etc., which 

 prevent a chamois from being readily inserted. This point 



