Huntington independent. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1871-1874, 1873-12-11
A Tale Of English Mail Coach Days.
BY ROBERT DALE OWEN.


some eighteen or twenty stones, hac
occasion to trrvel in summer by stag,
coach from Oxford to London. The
stage carried six inside; and our here
engaged two places (as, in cousidera
ton OF bis size, he usually dii) fol
himself. The other four seats we're
taken by Oxford students.
These youths, being lighter than
our modern Lambert, reached tht
stage before he did, and each snugly
possessed himself Of a corner seat
leaving a center seat on each side va
can't. The round, good tempered
face Of John Bull soon after appeared
at the carriage door, and, peeriug
into the vehicle and observing the
local arrangements, its owner said
with a smile, "You see | am of a
pretty comfortable size, gentlemen
so bave taken two seats. 1t will
greatly oblige me if one of you will
kindly movc into the opposite seat
so that | may be able to enter"
my good sir" said pert young
iav student, possession is nine
ten,hs of the law. You engaged
two seats. There are one on each
side. We engaged one, each came
first, entered regularity into possess
ion and our titles to the seats We oc-
cupy are iudisputab'e.'
Il do not dispute your titles" said
the other. "but | trust to your po-
litencss, seeing how the case stands.
to able pe to pursue my Journey y
"Ob, hang politeness!' said hope
ful young scion of some noble house.
Il have a horror f a middle seat,
and would not take one to oblige my
grandmother; its ungra' 'efuI as we'll
as unc mfortable; and besides one
has no chance of looking at the pret-
~ girls along the read Good old
gentleman, arrange your concerns as
you please; | stick 10 my corner" "
And he leaned back, yswned, aud
settled himself with hopeless COM
posure 10 his place.
Our corpulent friend, thought q
man rot easily discompossd, was
somewhat put out by this unmanerly
obstirancy. He turned to smart
looking youth with simper on his
face, a clerical student who had
hitherto sat in revery, possibly
thinking over his chances of a rich
beuefce IN the future; "Will you
accommodate ne?' he asked; this is
the last stage that starts for London
TO day, and business of urgent impor-
lance calls me to town"
"Some temporal affairs, no doub ;"
said the grsceless youth, with mock
gravity; "some speculation with
filthy lucre for its object. Good faith
or at your oge your thoughts should
turn heavenward, instead of being
confined to the dull, heavy tabernacle
Of clay that chains US 10 earth" And
bis companions roared with laughter
at the "d-d clever joke
A glow of indie nation just colored
the strangers cheek; but he mastered
the feeling in a moment, and said,
with much cou posure, to the fourth.
Are you also determined that | shall
lose my place; or will you oblige me
By taking a center seai?'
"Ay, DO, Tom" said bis Lordship
to the person addressed; "he's some
thing in the way of your profession
quite a physiological curiosity. You
ought to accommodate bim?"
MAY l be poisoned if dol' re-
piled the student of medicine. In .
di.sectiog room he'd make an excel
ent subject; but in a coach, and thi:
warm weather, too! O'd gentlemen, il
you'll put yourself under my care
III engage 10 the course Of six weeks
by judicious course OF depletives, tt
save you hereafter the expense of
double seat. But, really to taAe
middle seatin the month ofJuly l:
contrary to all the rules of hygiene
and a practice to which | have a pro
fessional objection.
And the laugh was renewed at tot
old geptleman's expense.
By this time the patience Of th
coachee, who had listened to the La
ter part of the dialogus, was exhaust
ed. "Harkee, geumeu,7 said be
"settle the business az you like; bu
it wants just three quarters Of min
utes of II, aud with the first strok
of the university clock my horse
must be off. would not wait thre
seconds longer for the King, Go
bless him. 'Txould te as much q
my place is worth" And with th'
be moulted his horse, took up tn
reins, bid the hostler shut the doo'
and sat with uprai,sd whip, listenin
for the expected stroke. -,
As it soun1od from the venerabI
belfry the horses, 's if they reeogn
zed the signal. shot of at gall'
With the four young rogues, to who
their own radeness and our IA
friends dilemma afforded a rVolit