FOUR IN HAND. 155 



gether of the teams should be intrusted to an experi- 

 enced man who really knows his business perfectly 

 and practically. 



Mishaps and accidents will sometimes hapi^en 

 through unavoidable circumstances to the most care- 

 ful and experienced coachman, but where one will 

 happen this way a score will occur through ignorance 

 that (might i^ossibly have been avoided if good judg- 

 ment had been used. As I have already remarked, "a 

 little knowledge is a dangerous thing," and is indeed 

 more so when acquired from those whose want of 

 knowledge in this particular business is their distin- 

 guishing characteristic. 



I have seen gentlemen start out with a team with 

 the pole pieces drawn so tight that the wheelers were 

 actually carrying the pole on their necks. The most 

 cruel thing I ever remember seeing ^\ as at Richfield 

 Springs. A young gentleman who has the name of 

 beino- a first-class whip pulled up opposite to where 

 I was standing to set down his passengers. There was 

 blood trickling down the near wheel horse's shoulder. 

 T called his attention to it, and was surprised at the 

 reply I received: "Oh, that is nothing. It happens 

 every time I drive him; I think the collars are too 

 tight." And in most cases this is generally considered 

 tJie cause of sore shoulders, but it is a very erroneous 



