no HIGHWAYS AND HORSES. 



out of this horn. As coaches died away, and I had 

 nothing for my horn to do, it became battered and 

 dented by my children, who nearly burst themselves 

 in vain endeavours to blow it, and was at last sur- 

 reptitiously smashed in by the nurse-maid, who did 

 not appreciate its good qualities." 



Speaking of coach-horns, I have no doubt they are 

 better made at the present day than in the time about 

 which I am writing. The old-fashioned horns were 

 very easily indented, frequently bent, and otherwise 

 injured. Within the last few years they have been 

 strengthened by three ribs of brass running down 

 outside in the direction of their length, the horn itself 

 being made of copper. A horn has also been brought 

 out on the telescopic principle, which closes up when 

 not in use, and consequently fits into a very short case, 

 but when adjusted is of great length. 



The best manufacturers of coach-horns at the 

 present day are H. Porter and Co., 30, Charing Cross, 

 S.W., and Kohler and Son, 116, Victoria Street, 

 Westminster, S.W. There are others, but it is with 

 these I am best acquainted. 



To turn to another subject, I am reminded that the 

 guards in the old coaching days were great news- 

 mongers, and they were accordingly held in great 

 respect by all who were anxious to know what was 

 going on in the world at large. Owing to the haste 

 with which coaches travelled and the little time the 

 guard had to waste in gossip, what he said w^as 

 absolute and undeniable. There was no time for 

 question, for objection, or for argument, and the few- 

 words which he addressed to the inquisitive group 

 surrounding the coach on its arrival, frequently fur- 

 nished a subject for conversation between both rich and 



