ANOTHER TALE OF ARC AD Y. 55 



these they themselves sometimes travelled to 



sell. 



With macadamized roads the strings of pack- 

 horses began to decline, and post-chaises were 

 introduced. This was in 1754, and three years 

 later carrier's carts and waggons had come in. 

 In 1763, the first stage-coach was seen in the 

 North, and was drawn by six horses. It ran 

 from Edinburgh to London, and took four- 

 teen days for the journey. This was express 

 speed, so to speak, and the Edinburgh professors 

 of that day warned persons from travelling by 

 the wild and whirling vehicle, as the rate at 

 which it went would bring upon them all 

 manner of strange disorders, chief among which 

 was apoplexy. 



This, as already stated, was the beginning 

 of many and rapid changes. Before that time 

 spinning-wheels were in every country-house. 

 In most cases the wool was taken from the 

 backs of the manufacturer's own sheep, and 

 each process, from first to last, was performed 

 by some member of the household. Every 

 woman was a first-rate knitter, and there was 

 a vast "output" of old-fashioned, blue-grey 

 stockings. Outside the domestic circle a few 



