Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-11-12
The Law and Manners of the Read.

The following article upon the foregoing
subject, we lake great pleasure in reproduc
ing. Good manners upon the highway is as
much an evidence Of good breeding as in the
drawing room-and we presume no one who
is al all acquainted with the subject will
pretend 10 gansay ii. For bad manners in
the drawing room, however, the remedy is
socini one altogether; upon the highways
il is, happily Il legal one There is law to
compe AN illtcmpsrel, careless, or reckless
driver of carriage of any kind to allow
another he free USE equal with himself, of
any public road.
The remarks touching the question, we
commend To public attention, in the belief
that their general perussl will produce a
good effect.
All of us have ideas more OF less correct,
in regard 10 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, however, may
not be amiss
1t is commonly said that every one has a
right to half the road. This is practically
true, and came about in this wise: You and
meet upon the road-our legal rights are
exactly equal, and both have right to 60
our several ways without obstruction, SO,
popularity, we say own half and you half
The law steps in TO facilitate matters, and
directs each to turn toward his right hand
This Is true whatever the load or the team
for il one can drive such team that another
can pass him but with difficulty or at all
then their rights are no longer equal. Thi.
point becomes very importan. in winter, fol
1t is no joke to turn your horse and all into
the deep show while your neighbor goe
smoothly along in the beaten path. No on,
has right so to load his team as not to b,
able to give up half the track to whoeve
emands II.
A footman may choose tue part which
peases him or any portion of his right hanC
half of the way, and the team must yield i
to him. This Is clearly so in the winter, an,
no man is Obliged to step into the snow 70
one or tw horses. This is the law and til
court awards it..
Now for the manners of the road; which
IN some instances vary from the law thereof
The first requirement Of the road man
ners is good nature and All accommodation.
spirit. Do to others as you would have then
to do you. Always be willing to yield NOR
than half the space, then you will be prett,
sure to be equally well treated. They whit
exact inches will have inches exacted q
them. Ifyour neighbor has heavy load
consult his convenience as far as possible
you may sometimes be loaded. 1t has be
come practical rule Of courtesy to turn TO
heavy teams, especially in winter, and whei
the roads are heavy. But remember it wa
favor. not your right, and you have ARE
cprocal duty to perform, and one which,
am sorry to observe, is not always horne il
mind.
One word in relation to teams going th
same way, in which case may seem to thinl
there is neither law nor manners. When
team comes up behind you, that team has
right to n reasonable space and opportunit,
to pass on-in fact to half tho road for tina
purpose-and your obstructing him in hi
lawful desire is both bad manners and ba,
law. II your load is heavy, do the best yo,
caA In most cases the very least that ca
be asked is that you should stop. This
particularly SO in the winter, when it is
heavy tax on a team to force it into trot /,
deep snow, or deep mud, or frozen and dee
ruts-made necessary by our continuing 1
move on. Remember the good old ap6or
ism, which can be SO opportunity apple
here-'Wheel grease is a great lubricatol
but good manners vastly greater one"