43§ LENGTHS OF STAGES CH. XIX 



The last stage should always be the shortest, if 

 possible, since the team which does it has the least 

 time to rest between its two turns of work. 



This might be modified as follows : first stage 

 8 miles, second stage 8 miles, leaving 12 miles to be 

 done by the last team, which will, however, have a 

 long rest ; that is, until it is required to take the coach 

 back the next day ; this last stage being done back 

 by the fresh team which came out the day before. 



This is not an uncommon arrangement, and has 

 the advantage of suppressing one stable with its 

 attendant helpers ; but, as a rule, the horses of the 

 long stage are not quite so pleasant to drive, espe- 

 cially in warm weather ; they are somewhat tired 

 toward the end of it, but they will be entirely 

 rested by their long stop in the stable and come out 

 fresh the next day. 



To give an example from actual practice. The 

 coach from Paris to Maisons-Laffitte in 1894, was, 

 in the beginning of the season, arranged as follows, 

 the proprietors of the previous season having so 

 run it : First stage : Paris to Suresnes, 5.6 miles, 

 35 minutes, town team ; second stage : Suresnes to 

 Bougival, 5.3 miles, ^ minutes; third stage: Bou- 

 gival to Maisons-Laffitte, 8.5 miles, 52 minutes, a 

 five-minutes' stop being made on the terrace at 

 St. Germain. The last team remained at Maisons- 

 Laffitte, a fresh team bringing the coach back after 

 lunch to Bougival. 



It was found, however, that the last team, after 



