1 68 DRIVING. 



procession moved off to whatever point had been agreed upon. 

 It might be to Gravesend, Richmond, Dulwich, the Crystal 

 Palace, even to the wilds of Kensington ; but perhaps the most 

 favoured spot was Greenwich. Stabling and dinners were 

 alike good there, and the road home so familiar, that be the 

 night never so dark, the horses could always find their own 

 way back, which was sometimes an advantage. 



When dinner was over, the President placed his white hat 

 on the table as a badge of office, and called on the Secretary to 

 explain to the meeting the position, financial and otherwise, of 

 the Club. This having been done, the President would then 

 deferentially request Colonel Fane to make some remarks upon 

 the performances of the day, reminding members that it was 

 strictly forbidden to answer or discuss any criticism. The 

 great whip would then rise with an extra twinkle in his merry 

 eye, and solemnly begin. ' Mr. Secretary, I noticed that when 

 you passed my coach this afternoon to show the ladies how you 

 could drive ' (' No ! ' Silence !) ' your leader was all over the road, 

 and your wheels a great deal too close to mine.' (' Well, how 



could I help my leader shying at your old Order, order, 



order.) ' Besides, when you wanted to rouse your leader, you 

 very nearly hit my young 'un. Now if ever you want to pass me 

 again, and I choose to let you, set your horses going before you 

 come up to me, then lay hold of them both and steady them ; 

 when your wheels are quite clear of mine, drop your hands 

 and let them shoot, and instead of flourishing your whip about 

 as if you were fishing with a dry fly, keep it still, and try and 

 look as if you could drive.' (Great applause, during which the 

 Secretary hides his confusion in the bowl.) Then one after 

 the other had to suffer, until the conversation became very 

 general, and the ladies thought it nearly time to be going 

 home. 



We have now seen something of the method by which the 

 theories of driving were inculcated into the heads of the 

 would-be Jehus. Their practical education was conducted in 

 another way. .When the President, armed with all the arbitrary 



