396 CAKRIAGES. 



quires a great deal of care to keep it in order. Carriages 

 are often elaborately finished to cover up serious defects 

 in tlie workmanship. 



Ninth. Examine closely the painting : a few years owner- 

 ship of a carriage will show a greater outlay in making 

 good original defects in painting, iihan for any other item. 

 If the varnish is dull, it generally argues that the painting 

 has been hurriedly done. The varnish will "strike in" 

 on bad painting, and a little exposure in bad weather will 

 crack the paint to the wood. 



Tenth. Never permit, in the cushions or backs, any ma- 

 terial but pure curled hair. Moss soon becomes hard. 



Eleventh. If you desire cloth linings in high colors, 

 always insist upon English cloths. French and German 

 cloths, in high colors, for the qualities used in carriages, 

 will soon fade. In drab' cloths, the American twilled is 

 the best in use. 



Twelfth. See that the cloth on the glass frames has been 

 shrunk before it was put on : if not shrunk, the first rain 

 to which it is exposed will draw it off the frames. 



Thirteenth. See that the door locks and handles work 

 with ease, and do not rattle. Nothing is more annoying 

 than bad door locks, or even good locks badly fitted. 



Fourteenth. In purchasing a carriage for road use, see 

 that it is made to "track " in the ruts in the district where 

 you intend to use it. There are at least a score of differ- 

 ent tracks in different parts of the Union — varying from 

 4 feet 4 (from centre to centre of the wheels, measured on 

 the ground,) to 5 feet 4^ inches. 



THE CAEE OF THE CARRIAGE. 



Having procured a carriage which has a fine lustre, 

 which runs easily and smoothly, and which is generally 



