490 CARRIAGES. 



maleriui and with no part strained or stretched till it does not fit into 

 its relative situation. 



When speaking of cleaning, it may be as well to caution the reader 

 against purchasing the requisites for cleaning his carriage of the nearest 

 tradesman or at the cheapest shop. Such goods should all be of a supe- 

 rior description, or of a kind which is not encountered in the stock of 

 most dealers. They cannot be purchased for a less sum than three 

 pounds ten shillings, if the quality is to be excellent : and it is always 

 better to commission the carriage builder to procure them than to risk 

 obtaining worthless articles. 



Most vehicles, whether mounted upon two or four wheels, are furnished 

 with mats or small carpets, though the nature of these articles are better 



represented by such things being desig- 

 t^ll^^^^m^^immm&i-f^ iiated "rugs." These "rugs" are com- 

 ^I^^^^^^H^^H^^ monly of two sorts : one kind being 

 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H^m known as "Brussels," the other being 

 ^^B^^^^^^^^^^BS| xermed "pile." The last, of any figure, 



always strike the beholder as not hav- 

 ing been specially made for the situation 

 which the article occupies. The Brus- 

 sels are not open to the same objection, 

 having an ornamental center, surrounded 

 A pii^ AND A BnussE,.s CARRIAGE cA^ ^j ^ complex bordcr. However, the 



PLACED TOGETHER. J r ' 



coachman should always carefully at- 

 tend to the rug every morning; because, as the pavement has to be 

 crossed every time the passenger leaves or enters the conveyance, that 

 upon which the feet rest is more likely to be soiled than any other 

 portion of the interior. 



Moist mud upon the surface of the rug should never be interfered 

 with. The soil should invariably be permitted to become dry prior to 

 its removal being attempted. Then the offending patch is more quickly 

 displaced by rubbing the sides smartly together, or by passing a clean 

 besom briskly but not heavily over the place, than by those numerous 

 gentler measures which occupy more time in performance and are more 

 wearing in their operation. All dirt being removed, no further brushing 

 is required ; but the rug, after having been beaten against any door post, 

 (but that of the stable,) may be replaced in the carriage. All rugs should 

 be similarly treated, and should be always removed every morning; be- 

 cause grit will necessarily accumulate upon the floor, and thus cause 

 much more wear than can be occasioned by the feet alone. 



As concerns those things which the wheels require, the coachman 

 should observe three matters, which are all specially important : screw- 



