GROOMS. 397 



things could not fairly be included in this list. In a small 

 place, say, with only two or three stablemen, the cleaning of 

 boots is generally taken for granted ; but in large establish- 

 ments, that duty would be performed by an " odd man " or 

 boy. A coachman is of course expected to be able to drive 

 single and a pair, but not four-in-hand, unless he is specially 

 engaged for that work, as well as for the more simple forms 

 of driving. 



The most humble kind of stable manager is a pony boy, 

 whose labour in the stable is one of many duties. In large 

 places, an odd man will be occupied almost entirely with out- 

 side house work, and will have little or nothing to say to the 

 stable, which, in the opinion of grooms and coachmen, should 

 be kept sacred from outside intrusion. We meet among 

 cooks, gardeners, and officials of all kinds, the same dislike to 

 unprofessional inspection. In small establishments, the odd 

 man will probably divide his time pretty equally between the 

 house, stable, and garden. 



The groom-gardener who has at least half of his time for 

 devotion to the stable, may be reasonably expected to look 

 after a horse and trap, or two saddle-horses, the time occupied 

 in the exercise of which might be regarded as equivalent to 

 that spent in driving the dog-cart or gig. Any driving which 

 the groom-gardener would have to do, would naturally be of an 

 unpretentious character, and he would not be expected to wear 

 livery, beyond a top coat and tall hat. A strapper in a hunt- 

 ing stable and a stable helper under a coachman would be on 

 about the same social standing as a groom-gardener. The 

 strapper is not supposed to ride, and the stable-helper not to 

 drive. Either of these men ought to be able to do three 

 horses well, and also to lend a hand at cleaning saddlery, har- 

 ness and carriages. In a job-master's yard, in which there is 

 usually the stimulus of tips, more work would be expected, 

 say, that of five, or even six horses ; but its execution would 



