THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



good looks, they are the worst payers we liave. So far from 

 giving us a double tip, they are much more apt to tip us the 

 double when they can.' 



' You don't seem to be very fond of the women, Jem,' said 

 Goodall. 



' They are all very well in their places,' replied Jem, ' but 

 I don't like too many on 'em about my coach. I hates the 

 sight of a bandbox, and still worse of an old maid and her 

 lap-dog.' 



' I observe,' said Lord Edmonston, ' there is not so much 

 swearing now among road coachmen as there used to be, when 

 I first travelled by coaches.' 



' Please you, my Lord,' answered Jem, ' there is not so 

 much swearing among gentlemen as was used to be. Depend 

 upon this, my Lord, we little ones borrows many vices from 

 you great ones ; and you great ones, now and then — I ax 

 pardon, my Lord — borrows from us little ones. When gentle- 

 men leave off swearing, depend on it, it will get very much out 

 of fashion.' 



At this moment one of the Birmingham and London coaches 

 gave our party the meeting, and called forth some remarks 

 from them on the superior style of the cattle, as well as the 

 improved build of the coach. It was full inside and out, 

 together with an abundance of luggage, but was nevertheless 

 proceeding at the rate of eight miles an hour, on rather a 

 considerable ascent of ground. 



' What country in the world but England,' exclaimed Jack 

 Webber, ' can exhibit such a sight as that ? We ought to be 

 prouder of it than we are. There go half the population of a 

 village, together with all their traps, as we call luggage on the 

 Brighton road, carried at the rate of a good nine miles an 

 hour, all stoppages included; and, although on what may be 

 called a ticklish balance, as safe as if they were in their beds, 

 by the superior system of putting horses into harness and 

 driving them. I repeat, we ought to be prouder of it than we 

 are.' 



' They tells me, Mr. Webber,' said Jem Powell, ' though I 

 scarce knows how to believe it, that we shan't be proud of it 

 long. They say coaching by horses is soon to be at an end, 

 and that we are to have coaches go of themselves — that is to 

 say, b}^ some kind of machinery which it is not in my power 



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