The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-06-03
THE LAW AND MANNERS ON
THE ROAD.


All of us have ideas more or less cor
rect, in regard to the law which regu-
lhtcs our use of the highways; and, at
any rate, good sense and good nature
are ussually very safe guides. A few
words on the subject, however, may
not be amiss.
1t is commonly said that every one
has right to half the road This is
practically true, and comes about in
this wise: You and / meet upon the
rond-our legal rights are exactly
equal, and both have right TO go our
several ways without obstruction, so,
properly, VIC say own half and you
half The law steps in to facilitate
matters, and directs each to turn 20
wards his right hand. The road
should be worked" wide enough for
two teams abreast, then each man has
clear title to passage on his right
hand side Of the way; and no one has
a right to obstruct another while on
his own proper track. This is true
whatever the load or the team; for if
one can drive such team that another
can pass him but with difficulty or not
at all, then their rights are no longer
equal. This point becomes very inn
portant in winter, for it is no joke to
turn your horse and all into the deep
snow while your neighbor goes smooth
ly along in the beaten path. No one
has IA right so to load his team as not
to be able to give up half the track to
whoever demands it.
A footman may choose the part
which pleases him or any portion of
his right hand half the way and the
team must yield it to him. This is
clearly SO in winter, and no man is
obliged to step into the 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 RECRUITMENT of road man
ners is good nature and an accommo-
dating 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 ex-
act inches will have inches exacted OF
them. If your neighbor has a heavy
load, consult his convenience as far as
possible; you may sometime be loaded.
1t has become practical rule of cour-
tesy to turn out for wood and logs, and
for other heavy teams III winter; for
they say, eve often cannot turn out,
and never safely, so, if you want wood,
accommodate US, which we are very
willing to do. But remember it was a
favor, not your right, and you have a
reciprocal duty to perform, one which,
/ am sorry to observe is not always
borne in mind When you have UNI
loaded and are returning empty, Just
recollect that you had the whole road III
the morning, and it is no more than
fair that you should be particularly
obliging to those whom you meet now,
and give them their full share of the
path.
One word in relation to teams going
the same way; in which case many
seem to think there is neither law or
manners. When team comes up be-
hind you, which desires to proceed
faster than you do, that team has a
right to reasonable space and oppor-
tunity to pass in-in fact to half the
road for that purpose-and your OBJ
structing him in his lawful desire is
both bad manners and bad law. II
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 any team to force
it into trot in deep snow-made nee
essary by your continuing at walk.
Ny remark above in relation to the
emptied wood sled applies here, and
if one wishes to pass you, remember
that while loaded you had the whole
road.
One remark more, to and for the Ia
dies. First, to them. If out walking,
keep in the path--never step into the
snow or mud for any ordinary team
II You meet the team, step into youl
right-hand track or part of the road
and all goes on easily If the team
comes up behind, step into your left
hand track; then, as sleighs are built
the horse goes in the other track, as
before. Whereas, if you continue in
your right-hand track the horse or the
team must travel wholly in the deep
snow in order to pass you, and the
driver will be tempted to scold his wife
as proxy for the female sex generally.
| have this to say for the ladies-al-
ways turn out for them. They are en-,
titled to the right hand half, and will
YOU run over them because, in their
confusion at meeting one of the "lords
of creation" they happen to take their
half out of the wrong side
| close this somewhat lengthy dis
serta ion with an appropriate aphor-
ism: Wheel grease is great lubrica-
tor, but good manners are vastly
greater ones--N 4. Farmer.