STYLE. 375 



est and retiring habit, it will be most beautifully finished 

 when it exhibits great simplicit}^, or an entire absence of 

 decoration. A royal state carriage, and a simple coup6 

 are both beautiful, though Avidely different. The simple 

 vehicle will usually be the most elegant, and the error, if 

 any, should be oq the safe side. 



The style of carriages in the United States is, for all 

 descriptions, much lighter in appearance and in reality, 

 than in England. Something is undoubtedly sacrificed 

 on the score of strength and durability to this taste, but 

 as it cannot be supposed that Young America will, for this 

 generation at least, be content to drag about heavy lumber- 

 ing carriages of the European style, we may find some com- 

 pensation for the sacrifice in the fact, that what is lost in 

 wear of the carriage is gained in horse-flesh, and in the 

 speed and despatch with which our business, and even our 

 pleasure-driving is accomplished, — while we may justly 

 pride ourselves on having arrived more nearly at the maxi- 

 mum of strength for a minimum weight of wood and 

 iron, than any other people. 



Economy and safety demand that the purchaser assure 

 himself that the carriage is sufficiently strong, and well 

 made for the service for which it is required. If intended 

 for use on city pavements or in stony districts, it must be 

 of the best possible quality of material and workmanship, 

 and a little extra weight in the wheels and axles is desir- 

 able. In all streets paved with stone, there are so many 

 inequalities, and so many unyielding obstacles to the 

 smooth moving of the wheels, that a single stick of un- 

 sound wood will usually soon make itself known, a bad 

 tire will most likely be broken, a bad bolt will become 

 loose or bent, and a bad spring will either be broken, or 

 lose its shape and elasticity. Of two carriages of exactly 

 the s^me appearance, and in precisely the same service, 



