The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-10-23

MERIT & RlpDLEy-We clip the fol-
lowing from the Pittsburgh Daily Ga.tttc
Of the 18th inst. Il has reference 70
articles on exhibition At the Exposition:
In the carriage department MeAsrs.
Mertz & Riddle, Of Rayenna, Ohio, make
a magnificent display. They have alto
gether Eve vehicles on exhibition, and
liner specimens Of the most finished work.
manship were never seen in this section
Of country. The first Is coupee. II is
calculated for two adults, but is large and
roOmy, and could very easily accommO-
date three persons. Outside it glistsns
like mirror. Inside it is upholstered
with rich satin cloth, with spring at
the back, making 1t almost as soft as
down. At the side Of the seat there is a
mirror set in the pane, and on the other
side pocket for carrying any small
packages that It il not desirable to carry
In the hand. There is also . small case
for cards set in the door The front Is
oval filed with glass at the top; the
board below is cushioned and little seat
or shelican be let down to accommodate
q child. There is also a bell handle
in the front, and by a turn Of 1t
the attention Of the driver out
side is attracted, The vehicle is in all
respects complete, and remarkably fine
specimen Of that kind Of work, Next to
the coupee Is "Landeau," or carriage,
with the top parting in the center, and
the sides on springs like buggy, so that
1t can be used either as q close or IN open
carriage. 1t is cushioned also, and lined
with blue brOadcloth, and the body ia set
on "C' springs, Back Of the Landau is
a carriage known as the Berlin coach"
1t is fully up in the way Of cushions, and
furnished somewhat like the rest, and its
body is set on "C' spring., but has one
distinguishing popularity, The sides are
made In panels which can DO removed at
pleasure. II used in winter, these panels
are kept In, II used in summer, they
ara taken out, leaving 1t an open carriage.
Curtains always 60 with II also, for use in
summer in case o sudden rain should
come up, It is the most complete vehicle
OF the kind we have ever seen, and Is q
suggestive commentary upon the ingenu'
lily which Is put to test In devising means
for the comfort Of those who can afford to
ride in their coaches. The coach is val
ued at 81 800, the Landau at 81 400 and
the Coupee at 81, 900.
The other two vehicles exhibited by
Messrs. Mert1 & Riddle are two hearses,
one for adults and one for children, The
latter is all white, but otherwise Is some
what similar to the larger one. The
hearse for adult funerals Is aSuperb speCi-
men Of workmanship. The wood work
Is black, and all "a highly polished as a
mirror. In each side there is a large
French plate glass, oval, bordered with a
deep gold stripe running all the way
around. This permits OF full view Of
the Interior, and that interior shows the
exquisite taste and skill OF the WOFkmen.
First there arc two sets Of curtains, one
set plain black and the other white satin,
with silver fringe. These curtains are
hung so that either can be used, and the
other drawn up out Of Sight,-the black
being used for very old, and the white for
younger persons. Then the rollers upon
which the casket IL rolled in, and the pins
which keep Il in place, are all silver. In
addition to this, IN each side in the centre
there Is a socket, in which can be placed u
bouquet holder, or n Masonic or Odd Fell
lows sign, or Catholic cross, according 10
the character OF the person to be buried.
The hearse Is supplied with the signs and
crosses; all these are made Of silver. This
whole arrangement Is something new in
this line. Then to give the finish to the
hearse the top Is surrounded by half u
dozen urns covered with funeral pals.
The vehicle Is really superb specimen
Of workmanship and attracts general at
tentiOn, notwithstanding the fact that a
hearse Is not the most attractive object OF
interest. II Is valued at $4,000, and Is a
sample Of the general work turned out
by this firm. The whole display made by
Messrs. Merit 4 Riddle Is indeed splen.
did one, and there Is nothing In the Expo.
sition which will repay q more careiulin.
spection. Such a display Is no less a
credit to the firm than 1t Is to The skill
and artistic taste Of the workmen from
whose hands 1t came.