LIVERY AND STABLE CLOTHES. 407 



be subservient to the quality of the horses, carriage and 

 harness, and to the smartness with which they are maintained, 

 and that his own get-up should be in keeping with the 

 turn-out. If the carriage, harness and pair would not fetch 

 more than, say, 300 at auction, black or dark-blue would 

 be the most suitable colour for the livery. The display of 

 a striking colour or colours, to say nothing of a profuse 

 exhibition of gold or silver lace, would naturally attract 

 attention to incongruities of detail, which are often difficult 

 to avoid without great trouble and considerable expense, and 

 which would give rise to no unfavourable comment in the 

 absence of obtrusive ostentation. The same remarks would 

 apply to the painting of the carriage and ornamentation of 

 the harness. An owner cannot err in trying to have his 

 horses too good, his carriage, harness, and the clothes of 

 his servants too well made, and everything turned-out too 

 smartly. 



The livery coat of a coachman and carriage groom would 

 be longer than that of a second horseman or pad groom. 

 Waistcoats are as a rule of coloured stripes, and sometimes 

 of a whole colour, such as scarlet. White buckskin cloth 

 (cotton) is generally used for breeches ; although real buck- 

 skin (leather), which is a good deal dearer, looks better. The 

 colour of servants' tops varies greatly ; pink, white, straw, 

 cream, salmon, light-brown and nut-brown being the most 

 common shades. White buckskin gloves look smarter than 

 tan leather gloves, which serve their purpose equally well, give 

 no trouble to clean, and cost about half the price. Driving 

 and riding gloves should be at least two sizes larger than 

 ordinary gloves, so that the action of the hands may be in no 

 way cramped. 



If smartness is not aimed at and a special colour for the 

 livery is not assumed, the coachman may with propriety 

 wear plain dark-coloured trousers along with a black or dark- 



