JIM SELBY 49 



became partner in an undertaking to run the coach 

 doubled. The two " Comets ' therefore served the 

 road in this season supported by two additional 

 subscribers, the Honourable H. Sandys and Mr. 

 Randolph Wemyss. 



In 1888 the " Old Times," forsaking the Oatlands 

 Park drive, had appeared on the Brighton Road as 

 a rival to the " Comet," and continued throughout 

 the winter months, until Selby met his death in that 

 winter. 



The " Comet ' ran single in the winter season 

 of 1889-90, and in April was again doubled for the 

 summer, running single in 1891-2-3, when Mr. Freeman 

 relinquished it. 



Mention has already been made of the " Old Times," 

 which made such a fleeting appearance on this road ; 

 but justice was not done to it, or to Selbv, in that 

 incidental allusion. They require a niche to them- 

 selves in the history of the revival — a niche to which 

 shall be appended this poetic excerpt : 



Here's the " Old Times," it's one of the best, 



Which no coaching man will deny, 



Fifty miles down the road with a jolly good load, 



Between London and Brighton each day. 



Beckett, M'Adam, and Dickey, the driver, are there, 



Of old Jim's presence every one is aware, 



They are all nailing good sorts, 



And go in for all sports, 



So we'll all go a-coaching to-day. 



It is poetry whose like we do not often meet. 

 Tennyson himself never attempted to capture such 

 heights of rhyme. He could, and did, rhyme " poet ' 

 with " know it," but he never drove such a Cockney 

 team as " denv ' and " to-dv " to water at the 

 Pierian springs. 



D 



