2o8 HIGHWAYS AND HORSES. 



the Stableman ; and another threepence to the washer, 

 who washes the cabs and horses. He goes on to state 

 that many of the drivers when the winter arrives seek 

 other occupations ; he says that most drivers make an 

 income of about a hundred pounds a year, and to do 

 this it is necessary to take over twenty-five shilHngs a 

 day in summer, and not less than a pound in winter. 

 This amateur cabman goes on to say that, in twelve 

 hours he had eleven passengers, and took in all twenty- 

 seven shillings. " One gentleman," he says, "engaged 

 my cab near the House of Commons. He went about 

 from place to place for nearly three hours, apparently 

 collecting signatures ; he gave me half-a-sovereign, the 

 proper fare was seven-and-six ; but I got the gold," he 

 facetiously remarks, " by addressing him as ' your 

 Excellency.' " 



Four-wheel cabs might be much improved if the 

 window-glass was fixed properly in the frames, and the 

 frames themselves were covered with cloth, to render 

 them noiseless ; in a four-wheel cab, when the windows 

 are up, and it is being driven over stone or macadam, 

 it is almost impossible to hear oneself speak ; conversa- 

 tion under such circumstances is an impossibility. 

 There is still a very large field for improvement in 

 London hackney-carriages ; but, as I have before 

 remarked, good broughams and station cabs are what 

 are required. I also think that cabmen might wear some 

 distinctive sort of uniform, for however well a cab be 

 turned out, the harmonious effect is entirely destroyed 

 by the singular get-up of some of the London cabbies. 



In my opinion, a man who is officiating as coach- 

 man of any vehicle that seeks patronage owing to its 

 neat and smart appearance, should wear some kind of 

 dress that is in character with his equipage ; the driver 

 of a regular old growler is frequently a most alarming 



