136 DRIVING AS 1 FOUND IT. 



over, have oftentimes allowed them to "hold the reins.** 

 and I never rame across but one (and that was a lady) 

 who did not think it was "quite easy," and so it Avas. 

 They would find it quite easy to hold the helm of a 

 sailing vessel under certain conditions — ^fine weather 

 and a straight run — ^but would find it much more difficult 

 in a gale of wind. Allowing passengers to drive recalls 

 to my mind an incident that happened last season. I 

 was on the road home, and when within a mile of the 

 town was asked by a gentleman passenger to allow him 

 to drive. I did so. The road was perfectly straight 

 with the exception of one turn which we got around 

 safely. The new coachman became quite elated with 

 his driving, and begged of me to allow him to finish the 

 journey as he wished his friends whom he expected to 

 be on the verandah of the hotel to see him in all his 

 glory pull up. I consented, with the admonition that be- 

 fore reaching the hotel he should steady them a little, 

 and at the same time explaining the difficulty he would 

 find in trying to stop nearly three tons of weight on a 

 down grade. When we got within view of our stopping 

 place instead of steadying his horses he wanted to go 

 faster and clicked to the horses to urge them on. I beg- 

 ged of him to commence pulling up, but it was no use. 

 He could see his friends and other guests of the place 

 who were waiting the arrival of the coach and renewed 



