Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-26
FASHION IN VEHICLES,
Wagons, Dog Carts, Mail Carts, and
Buckboards Trimmed with Silver,
From the Ne,o York Sun.

From the Ne,O York Sun.
"The taste OF men OF fashion," said tae
head of q famous carriage firm yester.
day, runs in favor OF heavy vehicles.
Years ago we lay awake nights devising
methods OF decreasing the weight of the
stylish wagon for gentlemen's use. Now
we devote our time to increasing the
weight. The dashing young swell about
town years ago prided himself upon the
skeleton-like build of his buggy. That
was the proper vehicle then, and the more
web-like and fragile the wheels and the
smaller the body the more stylish it was
considered. Imagine a swell OF to-day
driving buggy. He'd as soon think OF
an ash cart. Wenever make one for city
use now, but it's still an admirable vehi-
Gle for the country. Nowhere in the world
has it been improved upon, aud 1t is now
being very generally adopted In Russia
and England. They favor high, easy
swinging bugGes over there, and only use
them In the country.
After New York men discarded tho
buggy they turned their affections for a
time upon phaetons, but these were soon
resigned TO the ladies, and a modification
OF the English dog cart came in. Within
year there was veritnble craze for
dog carts. Several were imported from
London, and they fixed the taste for heavy
equipages among the mlllionaires' sons OF
New York. The dog cart was originally
used for all sorts Of hard service in the
English provinces. 1t was made very
strong; the wheels were OF great size. 10
roll over inequalities in the country
roads, and IL was used as a hack vehicle.
on which half dozen youngsters and as
many hampers would be loaded 10 70 10
meet or picnic. 1t Is odd that such an
uncouth and uncomfortable vehicle
should have held sway so long. A mans
first drive in big dog cart invariably
lett him with a lame neck, so tiresome
was the bobbing back and forth. The dog
cart liz, however, not now as fashionable
as the Stanhope gig. Many varieties Of
gigs are affected by young men who de-
vote themselves TO show and good form in
the park. The gigs are bit lighter and
more elegant than the carts.
TANDEM driving came in and went out
with the dog cart craze. know Of ONLY
three tandems in all New York now. and
they are not driyenjby acknow ledged lead.
ors, hut by tinn anx lous to get position in
the world OF fashion. A very great many
OF our wealthy families now use dog
carts, single and In tandem, AT their
country places, but never bring them to
New York. Another vehicle which has
suddenly fallen into great favor in the
country where there are fashionable city
people Is the buokboard--not the rusty
old-ume vehicle exactly, but something
very much like 1t. Come this way ana
I'll show You some OF them"
After walking through almost n solid
block of magnifcently flushed carriages
In the great warehouse, and going up two
stories IN the elevator TO where a battal-
lion OF smaller carriages stood, the repor-
ter saw lot OF buckboards that would
mako the eyes OF priineval backwoods.
men start from their heads II they could
see them. Many OF them were Ia white
wood, with silver 1Rlshings and gay