236 CONFESSIONS OF A HORSE DEALEB. 



cause an accident, it is, nevertheless, very erroneous to 

 suppose him to be a skilful driver, for he is quite the 

 reverse; and notwithstanding that he may have escaped 

 accidents hitherto, it is no guarantee that he should 

 henceforth he so fortunate, and he is not indebted so much 

 to his own skill, as to the skill and forbearance of others 

 who are able to keep out of his way, and take care of 

 themselves and their vehicles at the same time. "Were 

 it not for experienced, careful drivers, the more reckless 

 would not be able to travel one hundred yards in crowded 

 thoroughfares without an accident, and yet this class of 

 driver is the most insolent and impatient, just as if his 

 time were of more value than that of anyone else. 

 Every really clever whip has both the power and the 

 will to make way for, and thus assist, a quiet, inexpe- 

 rienced driver, or a lady when in a crowded part. Eut 

 a reckless driver is invariably a badly-disposed and sel- 

 fish man, because he will give way to nobody, but ex- 

 pect every one to give way to him ; and this he generally 

 ensures by the pace at which he drives, just by the same 

 rule that people rush out of the way of a mad bull when 

 running loose in the streets. 



Perhaps the greatest nuisance to be found in the street 

 traffic of London is the slovenly and reckless manner in 

 which the railway lurries and coal waggons are driven, 

 by men who sit on a box in front for that purpose. I 

 have seen many letters in the London daily papers 

 strongly censuring these men for their careless driving, 

 and not without reason. But there is this to be said as 



