FIRST-HAND BITS OF STABLE LORE 



of good grooms can blow a " call " or two on the 

 horn, and if not an amateur can very easily learn 

 to perform — it is all part of the fun. If a team is 

 kept especially for the coach, four animals quite 

 good enough may be put together for about ^loo 

 each, practically sound, good-looking, free, and 

 pleasant drivers, so that after an original outlay 

 of, say, 1 1,200 for the whole outfit, an expense of 

 $4. per day for keep, and a trifle for shoeing 

 and repairs, will furnish a " neighborhood " with 

 means for six weekly outings at a really trifling 

 individual cost. Of course, it must be agreed 

 that these daily drives are limited to a certain dis- 

 tance within the powers of the animals, and it 

 should be understood that any one making longer 

 trips must provide his own horses. Therefore, 

 for about ^20 per month any subscriber may once 

 a week take out for a drive of say ten miles a 

 party of eight to twelve friends, enjoying with 

 them a most unique pleasure. 



Public road coaching as an amusement has 

 made a surprisingly slight advance in the affec- 

 tions of Americans, and its perpetuation is nowa- 

 days seemingly confined to New York, the locality 

 of its inception more years ago than one cares to 

 look back upon. 



234 



