The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-11-22
The Stage Coach in New York City.

When the railroad car took the place
of the slow stage coach, it deprived
travel of most of its pleasures. One
sees but little of the country as he is
whirled rapidly through it amid noise
and dust There is no way in whi n
scenery can be so well enjoyed, as from
an outside seat of stage coach. The
moderate rate of speed allows al! the
beauties of the scene to be appreciated,
and the changes of the road present an
eyer-varying panorama. Then the
stage-coach allowed of social enjoy
ment, and chat and stories made the
time pass pleasantly. What a contrast
between the tavern, where the stage
passengers stopped for dinner, and the
present railway station with its live
minutes for refreshments There is
SO much that is pleasant and enjoyable
in travel by stage that wealthy gentle
men in New York City and vicinity not
long sgo formed coaching club, each
member of which had ''coach and
four" There are now many members
of the club. Each has coach made in
the best possible style. The body of
each and the running gear is painted in
a different style from the others. The
horses are carefully selected, and have
the most complete harness and trap
pings. The coaches have seats for six
upon the roof, besides place for the
guard y who with his horn announces
the arrival of the coach. The driver
is usually the owner of the coach, and
there is no little friendly rivalry among
the members over their skill in ''hand-
ling the ribbons A parade of the
coaching club is something well worth
seeing, and the club makes occasional
excursions to more or less distant
points. On one occasion its members,
or part of them. drove to Philadel-
phia and back. by the stage-route fol-
lowed be ore the days of railroads. One
member of the club is so enthusiastic
coachman that he runs daily coach
between one of the hotels of this city
and point in the suburbs. He takes
passengers at round price, and thus
allows those who are not mem
bers of the club to enjoy the
pleasures of this mode of travelling.
So popular is the Tally-ho Coach that
places are engaged many days ahead.
The passenger py the coach leaves the
city bv that beautiful gateway, Central
Park, and sees the city melt gradually
into The country. His road takes him
past beau ,iful villas as well as primitive
farm houses. His senses are soon
saluted by the refreshing sea air, and
he arrives at his destination pre- Jared to
do Justice to the ample dinner that
awaits him. His destination is Pelham
Bay, one of the most charming spots
upon Long Island Sound He here ex-
changes the varying scenes and sights
of the road for one of tranquil beauty.
| The blue waters Of the Sound stretch
out in front of him, and the many sail
ing craft 60 lazily by, their quiet being
in strange contrast to the fussy little
steamer that occasionally passes. After
few hours of rest at Pelham Bay the
homeward journey is commenced, and
the passenger enjoys the same scene in
the light Of the declining sun, and
reaches the starting point just as gas
lights and electric lamps are replacing
the daylight, refreshed by the novel
mode of travel and the change of ali
and scene. But some may say. sit
is very expensive So it is, but unlike
MANY of the amusements of the
wealthy, every dollar expended by the
Coaching Club helps some one. The
coach maker, the painter, the harness
maker. and many other trades are ben
Gifted. and even the farmer, who
breeds stage horses, has their value in
creased by what some regard as the ex
travagance of the Coaching Club
Anaerictn Agriculturist.