20 DRIVING AS I FOUND IT. 



different. Here is to be heard swearing, whipping, 

 smashing of panels, backing of horses, vociferations of 

 coachmen, cabmen and policemen, the whole place a 

 perfect pandemonium. This contrast arises from 

 the fact that in tlie latter case there are a num- 

 ber of men employed to drive carriages who have 

 little claim to the name of coachman. These clumsy 

 workmen often fall to the lot of ladies, and nearly 

 always to merchants and business gentlemen who keep 

 carriages, the owners not being competent judges of 

 driving, take a coachman from the recommendation of 

 others who probably know as little of the necessary 

 elements of a good coachman as themselves. Here 

 let me strongly (recommend ladies never to take a 

 coachman on mere recommendation, unless they know 

 the person who gives the recommendation to be a 

 perfect judge of the requisite qualities of one. If they 

 consider a )man to be a promising candidate, before 

 finally engaging him let them get some one of their 

 acquaintances who thoroughly understands such matters 

 to sit by his side on the box for half an hour. He will 

 then either be at once disproved of, or they will be cer- 

 tain of having a servant who understands his business. 

 Ten dollars a month more in wages will be amply made 

 up by avoiding coachmakers' bills for repairs or those 

 of veterinary surgeons for accidents to horses. They 



