20 THE BATH KOAD 



IV 



One of the most striking differences between the 

 coaching age and these railway times lies in the 

 altered relations between passenger and driver. No 

 railway passenger ever thinks of the man who drives 

 the engine. He, in fact, rarely sees him. The coach- 

 man, on the other hand, was very much in evidence, 

 and was not only seen, but expected to be " re- 

 membered" as well. And "remembered" the old 

 coachmen were, too ; for half a crown each to driver 

 and guard was the least one could do in those times. 

 How great a tax this was upon the traveller may be 

 guessed when it is said that the coachman was gene- 

 rally changed about every fifty miles or so. The guard 

 would probably accompany the coach all the way to 

 Bath, but on the longer journeys there were at least 

 two. There was a very simple formula used, as a 

 hint to passengers that a tip should be forthcoming. 

 •' I go no further, gentlemen," the coachman would 

 observe, putting his head in at the window. A 

 simultaneous dij^piug of the hands into fobs on the 

 part of the passengers resulted from this piece of in- 

 formation, and the coachman would depart, richer by 

 considerably over half a sovereign. Imagination does 

 not go to the length of picturing the driver or the 

 guard of a train doing the like. 



It is not, however, to be supposed that coach 

 passengers greatly delighted in the practice, even in 

 those fine open-handed days. There were many who 



