CH. XXIV MEETS OF COACHING CLUBS 5 1 3 



observed by the London Clubs, where either a front 

 load or a full load is carried. In the case of mourn- 

 ing, when the wife of a member does not, for that 

 reason, wish to appear at the Meet, a lady takes her 

 place, or the load is made up of men only. 



The only occasion on which the wife of the owner, 

 if she is on the coach at all, is not on the box-seat, 

 is when a very distinguished personage, such as 

 the President of the United States, takes that seat 

 on the leading- coach. 



If the owner is unmarried, the lady on the box is 

 usually one of his own family. 



The owner and his servants usually wear bouton- 

 nieres of the same variety as the flowers in the 

 horses' heads. There are no lamps on the coaches, 

 and the grooms' overcoats are not on the rumble 

 but, if carried at all, are inside the coach. The 

 stable shutters are down (that is, open), and the 

 glass windows either up or down. 



The owner wears the uniform of the Club and a 

 black silk hat, as do all the men on the coach. 

 Some years ago, it was considered de rigneur for 

 ladies to wear bonnets, but hats have become so 

 general as to be considered correct even on a coach. 



It is hardly necessary to add that every attention 

 should be paid to the proper turning out of the 

 coach and to the dress and attitude of the servants. 



At a Meet of private drags, two servants in livery 

 should be on the coach ; never a servant in the 

 dress of a guard, as is sometimes seen in Paris. 



33 



