50 THE COACHING AGE. 



now and then — nothing with * fellies of the breadth 

 of six inches or more' having regularly travelled on 

 it for many years, the nearest approach to such a 

 thing probably being the thrashing-machine, the 

 weight and wheels of which certainly do not tend to 

 improve a road ; indeed, from their great weight it is 

 a very common thing to see on bridges in by-roads 

 notice-boards prohibiting thrashing-machines from 

 crossing, as the bridges are only strong enough to 

 bear ordinary traffic. This must be rather incon- 

 venient where a thrashing-machine is let out for hire 

 at various farms, necessitating its passage along 'the 

 roads between the different places at which it is 

 required. 



That these machines are not more generally in use 

 is perhaps a matter of congratulation with those who 

 have to drive about country lanes much, notwith- 

 standing the warning of the man in advance with the 

 red flag and the shutting ojff the steam, as the huge 

 engine itself is an object few horses will pass quietly. 

 Thrashing-machines were not to be seen on the roads 

 in the days of mails and coaches, or there might 

 occasionally have been an entry on the guard's 

 time-bill on the ' Quicksilver ' mail or Manchester 

 'Telegraph,' 'Three minutes lost in getting past a 



thrashing-machine met in the road at ;' and 



this, perhaps, if any accident occurred, might have 



