The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-23
TIE REVIVAL OF COACHING
ROLIFNG iLONG ENGFtND'S ROIDS
ISI " OLDLN TIME.


The revival Of coaching in England.
which has u late attracted much attention on
both sides II the Atlantic, originated about ten
year ae' with tho present Duke of Beaufort
Tie Dukes II Beaufort have for many genera
lions been famous Il ivrrs AMI the present
nohlcm1n 81 that name, IN 1856 or thereabDuts,
for the sake II ex rcise and amusement, UNDER
took to drive the Brighton coach. This occl-
ration Afforded him 50 much pleasure that he
conceived the notion Of establishing coaching
club, by which men OF we It'll and leisure would
bc led 10 the heathful amusement OF driving.
lie accotllnsly formed the now famous Road
CLUB Of London. II Is said that the Duke, who
seems to be man II phianfhfo)c motives. was
Influenced In seeking to revive coaching 10y tho
hope that many Of the young noblemen who
were sqlnndcring their fortunes aud compro-
msine their reputation by the gambling sports
OF tn turf, would be led to coaching a a less
danger ~ and more cDngcn'al node u crafty
ing their love of horses. His wish IN this re-.
spect Is being filncd, and the polarity Of
conchina has increased every year since the
Duke nrst called out the admirlng cheer, of the
uopulacc. and the crit lam OF those lrss cuthu-
sln-tir than himself in thcir love of time
hunnrDG occupation, hy taking the reins Of four
smrifed horses in his nan Ia and driving out Of
London with a loid Of outside ra.-ong.rs.
l. b. suuutr there were Twelve lines coaches
names rIuhridec Wcl-, Winds r.. " lrn'na Dor
lln.. Evening Dor,ing, Gudford. ST. An H..
Blk lin, leck,nham, WNc0mbe. NJ Ienheai
Il i.hton. and Virginia water. These Coaches
follow The routes OF old couch lines. and they
ar y 'ntcd, decorated, and furnished precisely
like ne old pablo stage coaches which ran over
the me routes before the day 81 railroads
All lie customs and traditions OF grrcnt stage
cItur are -trui uluu-lV Observed. and the inn
proyencnis which modern ideas ct e. iuiurtabic
trayrllul uctts~itHte are made Hs uuuhtrusivr
ana as c"nsonaht "i'h ancient forms and usAges
"a possible.
ine men who are engaged IN this revival II
coaching consider u regular u isine,s. not 20
mere amusement. Land carry II on in business like
mvnner. lhey cliim tgr tncir oolect the driving
out 81 railroads with all thcd myers, noises. and
incon,enien'es inscpardble from them, aud the
coaching men h1hitu lily speak Il the railroads
"a tine UnuOsition." The pOpullr interest III
tins revival in England Is very great, and the
nous lines DO thriving business. he utmost
pains IL taken TO provide tor the wants of pas
sengers. and the time blc is followed To the
second,it being verv rare FIR coacn to reach
any one a. H. drstin TONS three or four minutes
late. Unless the rold Is hilly. the horses are
hept on a constant Hop, and ;he average rate
of speed Il twelve miles an hour. The prices
ehafscd on ~ the lines are regulated 10y The
Road Ciuo' aud they do not attempt g. urlerpid
zach otuer although gOUd-naturcd rivalry Is
yraCtised among tucm.
An AMERICAN oN THE nox.
Tho Virginia water coaches, rtnnirg from
London TO Minl-ur Forest. wer. last summer
driven uy DE Lancey Kane, an American gentle-
MN II wealtn and leisure, who takes an enthu-
II a
e. understood, Intends to run line OF regular
nld-fdsniuned English stage 90 iche- ont OF Sew
YORK next sumner, TO compete with some Of
the short ines of railroad.
\ Ecuucu Ia Wtot kes great interest In the
cptctme rt yyal. c-pcci ally m this cuutry. gave
a ~UN reporter tte following dc'oan, 81 % rid.
which ne to"k 81 sdmmcr IN one OF 'ir. Kane
EuIli-h coaches.
zone of the INST things that attracted NV at
tenuun on N-itus London Wis tie Lr' AZ nun.-
Der Of advertisements aud show tills winch !
iouhi ia tue ueW-pa er' ana notes 81 ins 10
stage zach lines. / observed tnat the time
tables uOlsled in these ADVERTISEMENTS were
lr pucnlh consulted by travellers. aud On III
qnuy found tuat stage coaches were regarded
with gre % favor pv me travelling public, aud
that "A stage goa J. ride had Almost a. much
for the Enslishuhn Of W spinEfon Irv-
learned hat the coacn on one T The lines run
ming out Of London WIS driven oy one of my
enthusiastic counrymen- Mr. De l. nrey X n.
deteriHined To- ride with hin and expcrlence
the charm Of coac Ing. went to nutcncit's
Whitenoise Cellar, Piccadilly, which u very
old coaching house, and tue only one remaining
In the West End. THIS was the starting ultcc
OF the virginia Water Coz Ell. which left az 10 A.
NJ. 1t wanted only one minute r that hour
when arrived. The street was nllei with a
crowd Of men, women, ana BOYS ughIng. tHlk-
ins, and shouting. ana surrounding tw1 cNl,hcs
whicu stood m 'front.' Il the Inn door, with their
horses, IA SHINING harness, attacned and inn
patient u 81 Ct. lie Nmginil Water coach,
W lch was painted yellow, with red wheels.
had four spirited horse Two chCstnuts ana
two rrnys-n front Of Il and the driver, Mr
bu giowin. with health and splrit- was hold
tns them IN check with gnp at iron. Mr.
Kane was rather under the ordinary height.
strongly putt, Win square determined face,
burlY, d-natured Engli-hman, W. consulting
lis way hlll, and Al the same time hurryhg "A
henvy b nd-b0xed old lazy, the only inside
passenger INTO her phase. Inen came Nj.
haucs curefy call,
Now then. guard right?
Right responded the guard. sprinsing into his
place IA the cOacn ana flowing nis horn.
the sTALT.
Now JUMP, quick, SAID Mr.. Kane, reaching
ldNl an l. ID lu %
ne seat beside himself ~ the box, tue scat q
lonor w.lcn nd engaged for Ave shiiliugs eN-
'ri four dNs previous. Here We gol crack.
raeh The h'iets sIgn2 mo rapii g4lop
The passengers cling to their seas. the st &c
bounds aud sways like "A ship in u heavy sea,
thcn rights Itself aud osclidtt- with an easy,
pleasing motion, the crowd cheer ami throw uu
their hats, and We are OF like the wind. At the
ning TO iun1fidee Well. net,ycan ,vhnse driv,r
aud Mr.. Kane lively b entering ha1 been kept
W while tue coaches were standing still, starts
on Ia another direction, it, roof studded Ike
our own with passengers. The guards shout
good bi, tue Passengers wave their mats, and
then the Two COACHES are c. ucealed from each
The 1nt stage, seven miles IN length, took US
20 the outskirt. only OF hi, ,n0rm o.s city. As
omniuus~es ana triyate carriages wnich we met
good u ltur Oily saluled us uS raising their whips,
cheercd as We passed. We passed by Hyde
Park, kenslngton, llanmersmith, and Chiswick.
and at lOAJ \. VI. da-hcd up IN front 81 the
II ana q fter at Kew Bridge, the end Of
tho hr,t stage. We nd come, seven miles IN
ana ran INTO the inn where "a pretty BARNARD
met MIN with smile and foauin- mug of ale,
n II ut the IHssengerS also hastily disuouuted
and drank ale ~ tho bar, but they had to
scramble back tor their seats, Tor ia three
minutes two Of the painting horses had
been exchanged for fresh cues. and We were
of once more. The second stage took ~ through
one 81 the most picturesque parts Of ENGLAND.
The guard IN the intervals between Winning his
horn pointed out objects ~ Interest. aud Mr.
Kane good naturedly answered the numerous
inquiries Oi the Passengers. We passed close by
the famous Richmond Park. A summer shower
coming up, the guard produced waterproof
clio tks ard aprons, under VIII ch We found shelter
while adinirng the park scenery That was rem
dered more attractive by the rain which fresh
cued the green of the lawns ana tree TOPS, and
drove the Thousands Of deer for shelter beneath
the trees where they ranged themselves in
picturesque groups. over the beautiful Rich
nond bridge we crossed the Thames into lwick-
enhdn and leeddington, noted as the home OF
Tue Irhce- - Orange during their long exile
Ieeddlugluu - an the head OF tide water in the
lhaur-' ana its name j. corruption II tlding
Town. JIat hciurc reaching the gates OF the
Ial ce 81 hampton Court, which was the end OF
the second stage, We passed through the finest
avenue Of chestnut trees IN England The ave-
- "A re long, and tn II uhnrrtV