Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1874-11-19
WASHINGTON @ H, o. THURSDAY NOV. 10, 1874.

Heath or Shooters Hill. Justices
rode the circuits in jack boots, the bar
following on foot, surrounded by a
numerous escort armed to the teeth.
Indeed sum of money, called "dag-
ger money" was annually contributed
by the sheriff for the purpose of pro
viding such escort with weapons.
Such a state of affairs in our day
would be made the subject of indigna-
ton meeting, reform ssociations, and
loud public demands for Improvement
But with the men of Charles lis time,
the case was quite the reverse; they
vigorously resisted improvements; and
it was not till many toll bars had been
violently pulled down, and some blood
shed, that a good system of road re-
pairs was established; and not till
the stage coach had been made the
subject Of much heated discussion, land
numberless grave pamphlets and peti-
tions to Parliament for its suppression
had appeared that it ceased to be
looked upon as a crying evil. This
latter mode of conveyance was first
introduced into England in the closing
days of the PrOtectorate, but did not
excite much public interest till the
spring time of 1869, when a daring
innovation was attempted. It was an
nounced that vehicle described as
the "Flying Coach" would make the
journey, Providence permitting +"
from Oxford to LoRdon between sun
rise and sunset. This spirited under
taking was solemnly considered and
sanctioned by the heads ofthe Univer-
sity, and appears to have excited the
same kind of interest which is exc tied
in our day by the opening of new
railway The success was complete :;
but with the boasts of its supporters
were mingled the complaints and in
vectives of its enemies. Large inter
ests had been unfavorably affected land
as usual many were disposed, from
stupidity or obstinacy, to elamo1
against the innovation simply because
it was an innovation. In John Cras-
sets Reasons for Suppressing the
Stage Coaches" published in 1872
they are denounced as one of the
greatest evils that had happened o.
late years to the kingdom; mischiev
Gus to the public, destructive to trade
and preiudicial to lands The breed
of horses would be destroyed, ant
men would grow careless of goot
horsemanship; the Thames, that hat
been so long the important nursery o
seamen, would cease to be the chic
thoroughfare from London up tC
Windsor and down to Gravesend
and saddlers and spurriers would b.
ruined by hundreds. It was vehement
ly argued that those who travelled il
coaches became weary and lstles
when they rode few miles and wert
unwilling to get on horseback, "no
able TO endure frost, snow and rain, o
to lodge in the felds;" that to saw
their clothes and keep them selves clea
and neat, people rode in co aches; tina
this was ruinous to trade, s'for tha
most gentlemen, before they rode il
coaches, used to ride with sword belts
pistols, portmanteaus, and hat cases
which in these coaches they have lit
tie or no occasion for;' and that afte
travelling two or three journeys Oh
horseback their Fsclothes were want tc
be spoiled; which done. they wer
forced to have new very often, an
that increased the consumption of tn
manufactures and the employment 0
the manufacturers, which travelling il
coaches doth no way do" How it ul
timately triumphed over all opposition
and became, with its rosy gilded coacl
man and facetious guard, its upset
and break downs, its ''outsiders" an
''insiders,' peculiarly English inst
tuition, is familiar to all readers G
, English novels for three generation
back.