THE COACHING AGE. 



the old plan of which is now only to be seen on what 

 are called mail-phaetons, in consequence of their being 

 after the pattern of the old mails. 



When springs were first being used on public 

 coaches, one of the objections urged against them 

 was that they would make the coachman's seat so 

 easy that he would always be asleep — a not impro- 

 bable event certainly, in the days when they "stopped 

 at numerous public-houses on the road, and for not a 

 short time either. 



It is said, as regards the width between the wheels 

 of coaches, that George Stephenson, the great 

 engineer, fixed on the distance between the rails 

 on the narrow gauge of railways, which is four feet 

 eight and a half, from the old mail-coaches, consider- 

 ing that as the best standard of balance, combined 

 with strength, speed and safety. 



One would suppose that the engine-drivers and 

 stokers, travelling many miles daily, would all be 

 perfectly familiar with the breadth between the 

 rails ; but I was very much surprised, on inquiring 

 of several while on their engines attached to trains,' 

 to find that some had not the slightest, and others 

 had most erroneous notions as to the space. I was 

 rather amused by one man putting it down at once at 

 six feet ; and on my representing to him that it 

 could not possibly be so much as that (I knew 



