CH. IV BOOTS 65 



in ; in this case the boot is accessible only from 

 the top by lifting- a flap which is under the feet of 

 the persons sitting- on the box-seat. While, on the 

 score of safety, it may be well to make a public- 

 coach boot in this way, it is so exceedingly incon- 

 venient for a drag, that it is better to have a door, 

 but always hinged at the top and with a lock, or 

 still better two locks, that can be trusted to hold. 

 On a race-course, for instance, the hind boot is full 

 of the lunch-boxes, or should, at any rate, never 

 have anything dirty put into it, the horse clothing 

 and halters must be in the front boot. It is diffi- 

 cult for the grooms to get out these articles through 

 the small opening in the top, under the feet of the 

 person sitting on the box-seat ; but after the horses 

 are taken out, the front of the boot is quite acces- 

 sible if it has a door. 



The boot may be made accessible from the inside 

 of the body, the opening being closed by tlie back 

 of the front seat, which is hinged or made to come 

 out altogether. In old travelling-carriages this ar- 

 rangement was frequently used, to permit a bed to 

 be made inside of the carriage, the feet of the per- 

 son lying on it extending into the boot. 



A coach was designed by Mr W. G. Tiffany, 

 and built for him by Peters of London, in 1868, in 

 which the sides of the front boot turned down, being 

 hinged near the bottom edge, one of the steps serv- 

 ing as a handle to the lock, and so arranged that 

 the door could not be opened unless the step were 



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