THE COACH-HOUSE, HARNESS-ROOM, ETC. 87 



good servants, and then spoil the one and demoralise the other 

 by unfair usage. As regards two-wheeled carts, a varnished one 

 that is to say, one varnished but not painted is rather less 

 trouble to clean than one which is both painted and varnished. 



It is scarcely necessary to remark that the coachman should 

 make frequent examination of the carriages committed to his 

 care. A sudden jolt may have caused something to go amiss 

 with a spring ; a nut or a bolt on the under-carriage may 

 have worked loose ; the pole or splinter-bar may have become 

 sprung ; the wheels may need oiling, or the washers may 

 require to be renewed. In all these little matters the stitch 

 in time may save not only nine, but the life of some 'one 

 as well. The axles in particular should be carefully examined, 

 as they are probably the most important of all the com- 

 ponent parts of a coach or any other carriage ; and since 

 the ill-fated accident that befell the ' Box Hill ' when Captain 

 Cooper was driving it and the pole broke, we do not re- 

 collect a single mishap to any of the road-coaches which was 

 not caused by a defective axle. In 1882, the axle of Major 

 Lawes's drag broke while he was driving along Queen's Gate, 

 the passengers were thrown off, and Mrs. Willis had the mis- 

 fortune to severely injure her leg. Collinge's boxes are mostly 

 in use for private carriages, and the old mail box for both 

 public and private coaches ; they are both good in their way, 

 but when once a flaw appears in the steel, all the screws and 

 bolts in the world cannot prevent the wheel coming off. 



Accidents must happen sometimes to the best built, most 

 perfectly appointed and carefully driven, coaches and carriages 

 of every description. Horses may take fright at any unusual 

 noise or object, and run away ; they may kick, shy, or be up 

 to many and various sorts of tricks ; a pole or a spring may 

 break, a wheel may come off, or a thousand and one other 

 things may happen. In each and every one of such cases, 

 there is only one rule, a golden one : Stick to the ship as long 

 as you can ; there is always some chince of assistance being at 

 hand. There is none if you throw yourself, or jump, off. 



