HO IV TO BLOW, 455 



inferior coaches being made of tin, and not of copper 

 or brass. The old key-bugle was sometimes used on 

 the best mail coaches by such guards as could play it, 

 and upon this instrument they would enliven a journey 

 with the popular airs of the day. The post-horn, which 

 is identical with the tandem-horn of the present day, is 

 only thirty-two inches in length, and is generally made 

 of brass, and not of copper. A proper post-horn ought 

 always to be made with a slide, to elongate it, if neces- 

 sary, for tuning purposes. 



Five notes can be produced on the coach-horn, viz. : 



:^ g^=— ^ 



E 



Upon the post-horn an old guard says four notes 

 are all that can be sounded with ease, and indeed 

 it is seldom that more than three notes are used. On 

 the coach-horn at the first trial, most persons will 

 produce the note G, but after a little practice, by 

 compressing the lips more tightly the upper notes 

 will be obtained. A very little alteration in the 

 position of the lips will do this, but to produce the 

 lower note, C, it is necessary to relax the lips so 

 that they are wider apart. When blowing a horn 

 outside a coach and the wind is high, it is advisable 

 to turn one's face away from the wind, as by doing 

 this, one can blow with far greater ease. 



It should be remembered that a coach-horn, when 

 on a well-appointed coach, should not be used unless 

 it be positively necessary to clear the road of the 

 innumerable omnibuses, cabs, and other vehicles that 

 block the way in the streets of a crowded thoroughfare, 

 rendering it almost impossible to drive a team with 



