CHAPTER IX. 



COACH-BUILDING. 



That one-hoss shay — Scale-drawing — Owner's superintendence — 

 Dimensions of four-horse coach — Broken poles and axles — 

 Timber employed in coach-building — Wheels — Varnish versus 

 paint — Manipulation of timber — Wheels — Collinge's patent 

 axle — The osquirotal carriage — The mail axle — The carriage as 

 distinct from the body — Iron-work — Sons of Vulcan — Carriage- 

 springs — Painting and varnishing — Lining carriages — Improve- 

 ments in carriage-building — C springs — The English drag — 

 The sobriety of French workmen — Scientific training — American 

 wheels — The interchangeable system — The Paris and Dublin 

 exhibitions — Cruppers andbreechings — Labour-saving machinery 

 — Indiarubber tires — Standard sizes — The millionth part of 

 an inch — Standard gauges — Improvements in carriage-building 

 — Coach-building periodicals — Driving by night — Carriage- 

 lamps — Height of coaches — C springs — Brought up to a trade. 



Before commencing this chapter, I here give Oliver 

 W. Holmes's views on coach-building, as evidenced 

 by his wonderful verses on the still more wonderful 

 " One-hoss shay." 



"THE ONE-HOSS SHAY." 



Have you heard of the wonderful one-hoss shay, 



That was built in such a logical way, 



It ran a hundred years to a day, 



And then of a sudden it — ah ! but stay, 



I'll tell you what happened without delay : 



Scaring the parson into fits, 



Frightening people out of their wits — 



Have you ever heard of that, I say ? 



Now, in building of chaises, I tell you what. 



There is always somewhere a weakest spot — 



In hub, tire, felloe, in spring, or thill, 



In panel, or crossbar, or floor, or sill, 



In screw, bolt, thoroughbrace — lurking still, 



Find it somewhere you must and will — 



