Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-05-24
The Stage-COacll.

The revival of this social old vehi,
Gle in New York, for short routes, by
men of wealth and fashion who seek
to introduce Il new style Of amuse-
ment into social life, is one of the most
agreeable signs of the times. TO the
young people the stage.coch is utterly
unknown but there are those, and
not yet aged people, either, who re-
call the cheerful hours they have pass
ed in the numbering, rocking, squeak
ing and rattling vehicles of other days
with 4 pleasure that is as sacred as
any kindred one can be. The new
coach just brought out in New York
is built after the English model, and
is intended to be Il reproduction of
those which were wont to be fooled
out Of London to Windsor and other
towns, over roads whose perfection
put criticism to sleep at once. One
Of them is set down at a cost of sew
enteen thousand dollars and more
The colors are elegant, the horses Are
"iancy" matches, the harnesses are re-
splendent with varnish and metal, and
the box and boot are in keeping with
the body of the establishment OF
course the inside upholstering is equal
to the best. Col. Delaney Kane
starteu off with his team bright and
early on May Day, from the New
York tavern for the little rural inn
named Arcularius at Pelham, stage
of sixteen miles on Long Island Sound.
lie mounted the box, picked up the
rens, cracked his whip, and started
at the sound of the guards horn, amid
the cheers and smiles of an admiring
crowd. Now this is picturesque. 1t
has the flavor of the good old fashions
about it. 1t is not Paris, like every
hat and dress one meets in the street,
but Loadon, and that means the solid
article.
We have no idea that there is to be
any sudden revival of the stage-coach
in this country as an institution for
public travel. We have all rushed off
too far the other way for that. The
railway car revolutionized everything.
The railroad spoiled all the pleasant
old country turnpikes when the first
locomotive shrieked its contempt at
them. This age will never submit to
travelling at the stage. coach standard,
whether estimated for carrying ca
pacity CT for speed. The country
tlverns that used to form a line of in
land posts from Canada to Long IS
land Sound, and from Boston and the
other State Capitals of New England
in every direction across the land, will
never spring to life again on their own
ruins. We we'll remember one, a low.
rooted, broad old structure, with a
branching elm tree in front and q
wooden image of Bacchus astride a
barrel in the lower branches but
Bacchus, tavern, age.coach, landlord
and drivers are all vanished now, new
er to gladden. travellers eyes and
hearts more But there is a way in
which the Stage-coach can e.ljoy 4 le-
gltimate and permanent revival, and
this dashing New York experiment
suggests 1t. III may set aSolhg once
more Gordon of quiet country inns
around our larger and older cities, like
New York, Philadelphia and Boston,
that will supply entertainment for
such inhabitants as are willing to pay
round prices for their coaching and
provender. The horse car and the
narrow-guage will do great things,
but they cannot produce the pictur-
esque. The old stage-coach and the
slumberous little outlying tavern will.
Everybody will catch the idea at the
mere mention of Brighton and Lex
ington. There is sea-coast, too,
within easy reach, and coach drive
thither would be delightful.
Boston Post.