The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1864-11-26
The Law and Manners of the
Road.

We find the following article upon the
foregoing subject, which we take great pleas
ure in reproducing. Good manners upon
the highways much an evidence of good
breeding as in the drawing-room-an we
presume no one who is at all acquainted with
the subject will pretend to sainsay it. For
bad manners in the drawing-room, however,
the remedy is a social one altogether; upon
the highways it is. happily. a legal one
There is law to compel an ill-tempered.
careless. on wrcckless driver of carriage of
any kind to allow another the free use, equal
with himself, of any public road.
The remarks touching the question, which
we find in the Cyoremom y. H. Eagle, we
commend to public attention, in the belief
that their general perusal will produce good
effect:
All of us have ideas more or less correct.
in regard to the law which regulates our use
of the highways: and, at any rate. good
sense and good nature are usually very safe
guides. few words on the subject, how
ever. lnay not ne annlSS.
1t is commonly said that every ono has
right to half the road. This is particularly
true, and comes about in this wise You and
| meet upon the road-our legal rights are
exactly equal, and both have right to go
our several ways without obstruction, so,
popularity, We say own half and you own
half. The law steps in to facilitate matters,
and directs each to turn towards his right
hand. This is true whatever the load or the
team for if one can drive such n team that
another can pass him but with difficulty or
at all, then their rights are no longer equal.
This point becomes very important in winter,
for it is no joke 10 turn your horse and all
into deep snow while your neghbor goes
smoothly along in the beaten path. No one
has right so to load his team as not to be
able to give up half to whoever demands it.
A footman may choose the part which
pleases him or any portion of his right hand
half of the way, and the team must yield it
to him. This is clearly so in winter, and no
man is obliged to step into snow for one or
two horses. This is the law and the court
awards it.
Now for the manners of the road ; which,
in some instances. vary from the law thereof.
The first requirement of road manners is
good nature and an accommodating spirit
Do to others as you would have them do to
you. Always be willing to yield more than
half the space, then You will be pretty sure
to be equally well treated They who exact
inches will have inches cxactcd of them If
your neighbor has heavy load consult his
convenience rs far as possible: you may
sometimes be loaded. 1t has become
practical rule Of courtesy to turn for heavy
teams, especially in winter, and when the
roads are heavy. But remember it was a
favor, not your right, and you have rccp-
rocal duty to perform, and one which, am
sorry to observe, is not always borne in mind.
One word in relation to teams going the
same way, in which case many seem to think
there is neither law nor manners. When a
team comes up behind you, that team has a
right to reasonable space. and an opportunity
to pass in-in fact to half the road for that
purpose,;and your obstructing him in his
lawful desire is both bad manners and bad
law. If your load is heavy, do the best you
can. In most cases the very least that can
be asked is that you should stop. This is
particularly so in winter, when it is heavy
tax on Il team to force it into trot in deep
snow, or deep mud, or frozen and deep ruts
made necessary by your continuing to
move on. Remember the good old aphor-
ism, which can be so OPPORTUNITY applied
hcrc-"Wheel grease is great nbricator,
but good manners vastly greater one"