j CARRIAGES. 



BY ALFRED E. T. WATSON. 



THE thing which chiefly puzzled Charles Darwin in his 

 researches and speculations with regard to the development 

 of species was the evolution of the eye. He could not even 

 guess plausibly how the eye was generated ; and what perplexes 

 the inquirer into the subject of the origin of carriages is the 

 question when the wheel originally came into existence. When 

 first horses were domesticated and pressed into the service of 

 man, superseding, as there is reason to suppose, the use first of 

 oxen and then of asses, the man doubtless put what he wanted 

 to be carried on his horse's back, fastening it there as best he 

 could. But some keen observer, as we must suppose, watching 

 his horse thus burdened, hit on the idea that a more convenient 

 method might be adopted, and the horse's strength better 

 utilised. He had, in fact, evolved the earliest notion of the 

 carnage. 



His mode of procedure was to take a couple of poles and 

 so fasten them round the horse's neck that they dragged on 



For assistance in the compilation of the following chapter, the writer is 

 much indebted to Mr. G. N. Hooper, of the firm of Hooper & Co., carriage- 

 builders, of 113 Victoria Street. 



