402 HIGHWAYS AND HORSES. 



iron folding-steps, etc. The bright iron and steel 

 work is in many cases coated with nickel, thus saving 

 much time and labour in keeping it clean. This 

 process is in much more general use in France and 

 America than in England. It is said that a patent 

 stands in the way of its more general use in our 

 own country. But it must be remembered that 

 carriages are for use on dusty and muddy roads, 

 and to take people from place to place ; dust and 

 mud are fatal to such fine work. If it is really to 

 be preserved, people would be obliged to buy one 

 carriage to use, and another to look at. 



The ingenuity and skill of the French carriage- 

 builders is shown in numberless contrivances ; some 

 for converting one carriage into two or more, some 

 simple, some complicated, and some so elaborate 

 that it would require a skilled engineer or mechanic 

 to accompany them when used, to adjust any matter 

 that might happen to go wrong when in use, or on 

 their return from a drive. 



The hours of labour in F" ranee are longer than in 

 England, and Saturday halt-holidays are unknown 

 among French carriage workmen. They receive their 

 wages in some cases once in four weeks, in others once 

 in two weeks ; whereas, the English carriage work- 

 men are all paid weekly. 



England, France, and America have each periodicals 

 devoted to carriage-building. One English journal 

 publishes essays which were written in competition for 

 the prizes offered by the Coach-makers' Company, on 

 the subject of coach body- making, carriage-making, 

 and spring and axle-making. When the series is 

 published, complete in one volume, it is hoped that it 

 will form a good text-book. 



