American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-11-23
Che :farmer's department,
The Law and Manners of the Road.

Tne Law ana manners OF the Road'
We find the following article upon
the foregoing subject, which we take
great pleasure in reproducing. Good
manners upon the highway is as much
an evidence of good breeding as in
the drawingroom-and we presume
no one who is at all acquainted with
the subject will pretend to gainsay it.
For bad manners in the drawing room,
however, the remedy is social one
altogether; upon the highways it is,
happily legal one. There is law to
compel an ill-tempered, careless, or
reckless driver of a 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 C2aremOnt
On. H.) Eagle, we commend to pub
lie attention, in the belief that their
general perusal will produce a good
effect. -Germa1atOa0n Telegraph.
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.
A few words on the subject, howev-
er, may not he 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
road-our legal rights are exactly
equal, and both have right to 90
our several ways without obstruction,
so, popularity, we say | own half and
you half. The law steps in to facili-
tate 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 a team that
another can pass him but with diff
Guilty or at all, then their rights are
no longer equal. This point becomes
very important in winter, forit is no
Joke to turn your horse and all into
deep snow while your neighbor goes
smoothly along in the beaten path.
No one has right so to loadhis 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 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 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 requirement of road
manners is good nature and an ac-
commodation spirit. Do to others as
you would have them do to you. Al
ways be willing to yield more than
half .he space, then you will be prct-
ty sure to be equally well treated
They who exact inches will have
inches exacted Of them. If your
neighbor has heavy load, consult
his convenience as far as possible;
you may sometimes be loaded. 1t
has become a practical rule of cour-
tesy TO turn for heavy teams, especi-
ally in winter, and when the roads
are heavy. But remember it was a
favor, not your right, and you. have a
reciprocal duty to perform, and one
which, / am sorry to observe, is not
always borne in mind.
One word in relation to teams 90
ing the same way, in which case ma
ny seem to think there is neither law
nor manners. When team comes
p behind you, that team has right
reasonable space and opportuni-
to pass in-in fact to half the
'ad for that purpose-and your OBJ
cucting him in his lawful desire is
'th bad manners and bad law. If
,ur load s heavy, do the best you
n. In most cases the very least
at can be asked is that you should
op. This is particularly so in win
r, when it is a heavy tax on a team
} force it into a trot in deep snow,
deep mud, or frozen and deep ruts
made necessary by your continuing
move on. Remember the good old
phorism, which can be so opportu-
ely applied here" Wheel grease is
great lubricater, but good manners
i vastly greater one"