, 1886-09-01
A FAMILY PROCESSION.



the Countrywide Entire Outfit
The magnifcence and state in which
some of our more p~retentious families
travel, not only astonishes the natives,
but is apt to take the breath out of a city
man who is accustomed to the display OF
the same people in town. I was driving
along the Hudson the last week in July,
when / met a weli-known New York
family moving out to their country house
for the month Of August. The daughter
OF the house and two young brothers
were riding ahead on their favorite
horses followed at a distance by a sedate
groom. rit f - 1rf il'm
You'll meet the rest Of us half a mile
back" she said; such a ~caravani And
we only live here a month. for we're ex-
pected at Lenox on the 10Th OF Septem-
ber.v fHh ~ 10 -If- Oh 500 E
Then they all cantered on Over the
brow of the hill l observed . small vii
lage cart with a cool little miss driving
n pony and a footman in everyday attire
working like a Trojan to keep a small
army of poodles in the cart and prevent
another batch Of dogs. that were chained
to the tail OF the cart and running be-
hind, from being dragged in the dust.
There were fox terriers, q small bull dog,
a water spaniel, and a yelping skye in
the cart, while two bird dogs, a big deer
hound, and an Irish setter sen up a
base chorus from the rear. The footman
was what country girls would technically
describe as "a sight" Behind this little
feature of the parade came the family
carriage with the mother and two maids
and the big coachman. There were
bundles and wraps n two bird cages
and an entire absence Of the head Of the
family. who was 30 busy that he had de-
cided to run up later on the train. Wise
man. Just behind the family carriage
was a coach resplendent, and gorgeous
with four superb thoroughbreds ambling
and paving the dust.
The Oldest son of the house-he Is but
21-was on the box seat, put beside him
was the regular guard Of the coach ready
to end a hand in an emergency. The
Oldest son held the reins proudly. 1t had
been his ambition to sit in his fathers
seat for ten years, and this was the first
time it had ever been gratified. A raw
and rather delicately built boy is likely
to have all he can do to manage a
spirited four in hand. He was happy.
1t had been stipulated that the guard
should sit beside him and that he should
not pass the family carriage, which
moved at the regulation speed. Never
theless he wasin clover. Two boy friends
sat on one of the broad seats dressed in
yachting toggery and chatting the driver
as they consumed innumerable cigarettes.
Directly behind them were two immense
express wagons, each with three horses
abreast. They were loaded with trunks,
boxes and bales. Following them were
two carriages and a light blackboard,
made of white ash. all towed by the
horses and wagon of a prominent firm OF
carriage builders.
l confess that at this point / began to
to wonder when the procession would
come to an end. / turned a bend in the
road and encountered the SNUG visage OF
a well known horse trainer, who was
driving a team OF trotters hat are known
to every horseman in America. 1t was
a picture TO see the care and daintiness
with which he drove, steering the valu-
able animals clear of pebbles ON the road
that another man would not have seen,
and talking and whispering to them con-
stantly. The horses sleek and well
groomed coats shone in the sun like oiled
silk, and their sensitive ears swept back
and forth at every sound of the drivers
voice. As they moved along their small
hoofs and Glenn cut legs fairly danced.
They were 10th to touch the ground. l
neve saw a prettier sight than that pair
of sturdy horses. On the box by the
driver lolled the butler. without coat,
dignity or collar, smoking IA huge cigar
and looking extremely larky and happy.
Within the coach there was a picturesque
tumble of cooks and housemaids,
red faced, laughing and over
dressed. A small baggage wagon, with
a tricycle., a bicycle and a baby carriage,
finally brought the family procession to
a close. Who says America has no
leisure class?-Cor. Brooklyn Eagle.