166 THE COLOR. 



on the frog of the breast-plate or of the standing martin- 

 gale, on the skirts of the saddle below the terrets, on the 

 trace-bearers, and on the fillet-straps if used. Monograms 

 should occupy a space of an inch and a half or less in diame- 

 ter, and for a badge an inch is suflficient. By limiting the 

 size to these dimensions they not only present a more 

 modest and neater appearance, but are more economical, as 

 a uniform size may be used for such parts of the harness as 

 has been specified. 



The cost of a three-letter monogram is from $2 to $3.50. 

 The cost of an initial letter monogram is from 50 cents to ^i. 

 The cost of a badge applied to the harness is from $2 to $3.50. 

 The cost for applying to harness varies from 25 cents to 50 cents. 



THE COLOR. 



The type of carriage the reader has bought or is about to 

 buy should determine the character of the harness. If the ve- 

 hicle is one limited to use in the city, the color of the leather 

 must be black ; and, in fact, unless a carriage is a distinctly 

 surburban or country conveyance, and the owner's preference 

 strongly in favor of russet, the author's advice is to buy black 

 harness. The argument in favor of this selection is that the 

 future purchase of other vehicles is likely to occur, for which 

 russet harness is inapproj^riate, or a change of residence to 

 the city may cause the same objection to arise. Black harness, 

 if properly made, is always appropriate for all forms of one or 

 two horse carriages, whereas the use of russet is very lim- 

 ited. If properly taken care of the latter requires as much 

 care and labor as the former, and any injury, such as a scratch 

 or a stain, etc., is less readily hidden. The carriages to 

 which the author advises the use of russet harness to be con- 



