The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-01-07
NUMBER 8.
DRIVING AS AN ART.


u Jump III HcIt, was tHo HCai y
greeting given from a light wagon by ;
reporters horse-dealing friend as h'
pulled up in Harlem lane. Jump il
here and I'll show you how fast horse
cant 20 that's got big record. The
reporter took seat in the top wagon
and the horse logged at comfortable
gait up the avenue.
I'm exercising this brute for Gus
toner of mine who has gone abroad, >
continued the horseman. ale gave q
rippin' price for him at some country
fair last summer because he had rec
ord of 300 can't say he never trot-
ted it, but I'll bet or swear he's reform
ed or thinks it $ wicked to do it again.
The well filled thoroughfare caused
the reporter to remark that the business
of driving was enlarglng yearly.
That's So" said the horseman, "and
don't know of any other line where
safety of life and limb is concerned that
allows the employment of SO many mex
perienced. incapable persons. You'll
see them at all times on the road and in
the streets in charge of public and pri-
vate turnouts, and it seems to be
know nothing, fear nothing
Now look at this fancy affair along
side of us, said he, pointing to light
stepping nervous bay team before an ell
egant carriage and driven by man
gorgeously clad in livery; ''do you know
that money wouldn't hire ME bride in a
closed rig like that with such a driver?
too much style, too little sense. That
fellow has been told to sit up straight
and stiff SO that his toggery can be seen,
and to initiate some foreign nonsense in
holding elbows close to his ribs and his
lines up near to his chin. He has the
reins in one hand and the whip in the
other; now suppose one of them nice
horses should stumble or slip, he might
get bad scratch or sprain, for there's
no pull on him to recover his bit. Then
again, if spirited team like that should
take fright and want to run, what con-
troll over it has man in that position?
Why, before he could gather his lines
and get himself into shape, such a pair
of horses could make from three to five
jumps, and that's where the luck would
have to come in.
at seems to me that people who are
bright enough to make wealth and di-
rect warkmen should have better judg-
ment in selecting drivers. OF course
there are many expert drivers in the en-
ploEmcnt of OR best families; they get
good pay, know their business. and are
allowed to manage it. The trouble with
many private drivers is that they have
to put up with low wages and perform
mixed duties at that. First-class men
will not submit to such terms; tip-top
American drivers kick at wearing livery
duds at any price, Driving ought to at
least come under the head of skilled la
Dor; some of these days | believe yoa'l
see bureau established requiring an Off
cial test for drivers fitness. Men who
have charge of boats and boilers are all
under some sort of supervision; an en-
gineer of course has to be skillful and
but his charge allows him
mal,y guides to go By. Agauge shows
him the pressure of steam, an unusual
sound in the movement IF machinery
notifies him that something must be ex-
amined or corrected. A horse needs
comparatively as much watching as a
boat or boiler, and life is as sacred by
the carriage load as by the boat load.
As it is now, anybody, boy or man, can
rattle through the streets with single
or double team at the risk of making
paragraphs for you chaps. Why, sir
there are hundreds of men driving horses
every day in this city-and especially on
couldn't adjust a single
Or double harness in any emergency.
You've often noticed when a horse has
fallen and has to be unbuckled to rise or
to pull the shafts out of his way, good
natured cartmen, bystanders or police
men have had to do the business. Speak
ing of harness, if l had my way I'd have
IN authorized harness inspection for all
public service where the wear and tear
are severe; much safety could be provid-
I'd for by such system.
employers who lack horse knowl-
edge are often deceived by the drivers
who assume the qualifications, Here is
/ case: A nice old gentleman who lives
hear me, who keeps a private coupe and
las fairish lump of horse stopped
he the other day and called my attention
q the animal.
"'My driver, said he, says he's spav-
ned Hooked at the beast and saw no
Where is he spavincd?' l
lsked of the driver. In his foreleg,'
aid he, pointing with his whip. Well,
explained TO the old gentleman that
lorses didn't get spawned in their fore
egs, and I didn't embrace the opportu-
lity for swap. So you see there's some
'irtue in a horseman.
'Hcw can safe private driver be Sc
ected? Well, city and western stage
rivers are a good line of men to draw
rom; almost any of them with fair
equation for sobriety would fill the
ill. They are accustomed to close and
asst driving and are familiar with all de-
ais of horses and wagons in case any
hing needs looking after.
'Colored men? 0, yes, there are lots
# good darby drivers; they like horses
nd horses take to them with fondness
ome of them are apt, however, to de-
ght in show, and will make free
.oing team do more work than white
nan will. Unless he's bosscd pretty
harp our colored brother will often use
p good horse about as quick as-well.
bout as quick rs lady driver will. y
VeU York Tribune.