CH. VIII CARE OF THE COACH \2J 



necessity for using- a sponge, and the water should 

 be dried off with a damp chamois leather. Sponges 

 should be carefully selected and examined ; they 

 almost always contain gritty lumps, which are sure 

 to scratch the varnish. 



There is no great art in washing a carriage, ex- 

 cept to exercise care and not to be in a hurry. 

 India-rubber boots should be provided for the 

 washer ; in French stables he wears sabots. 



Water must not be allowed to go through the 

 joints of the doors so as to wet the linings and 

 carpet. 



The blueness of the varnish on the dark parts 

 of a coach, resulting from a long wetting by rain, 

 will disappear after complete drying. 



Little need be done to the steel-work at first, 

 except to dry it thoroughly. At the first convenient 

 time, generally the morning after the coach has 

 been used, it must be polished. If it is much 

 rusted by exposure to the damp very fine emery 

 cloth may be used to brighten it, and it should be 

 afterward burnished by rubbing with the chain 

 rubber (see Fig. 121) until a high polish is ob- 

 tained. 



A piece of hard, steel chain, made exactly like a 

 curb-chain, but about two feet long, is the best thing 

 for burnishing a pole-head ; it can be pulled back 

 and forth over it with a great pressure. 



A long piece of chamois leather dusted with flour 

 of emery may be used to advantage on the pole- 



