St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1886-11-06
STYLES OF VEHICLES.

STILES OF VEHICLES.
Gaudy Wagons. Gay Dos-carts, Prete,
Mafl-Carts and Rich Buck-Boards.
1.-The taste of men of fashion," said
the head of . famous carriage firm
''runs in favor Of heavy vehicles
Years ago we lay awake nights devising
methods of decreasing the weight oi
the stylish wagon for gentleman'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 . swell of to-day driving a
buggy. He'd rs soon think of an ash
cart. We never.make one for city use
now, but it's still an admirable vehicle
for the country. Nowhere in the world
has it been improved upon. and it is
now being very generally adopted in
Russia and England. They favor high,
easy-swinging buggies over there, and
only use them in the country.
after New YORK men discarded the
buggy they turned their affections for
time upon phaetons, but those were
soon resigned to the ladies, and
modification of the English dog cart
came in. Within year there was
veritable craze for dog carts. Several
were imported from London, and they
fixed the taste for heavy equipages
among the millionaires' 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. SO as to resist the wear and tear
OF years; the wheels We're of great size.
to roll over inequalities in the country
roads. and it was used rs hack vehicle,
on which half Il dozen youngsters and
as many hampers would be loaded to
go to meet or picnic. 1t is odd
that such an uncOuth and uncomfort-
able vehicle should have held sway so
long. A mans first drive in big dog
cart invariably left him with lame
neck, so tiresomc was the bobbing back
and forth. The dog cart is, however. not
now rs fashionable as the Stanhope gig.
Many varieties of gigs are affected by
young men who devote themselves to
show and good form in the Park. The
gigs are a bit lighter and more elegant
than the carts.
''Tandem driving came in and went
out with the dog cart craze. l know
of only three tandems in all New York
now, and they are not driven by ac-
knowledged leaders, but by men
anxious to get position in the world of
fashion. A very great many of our
wealthy families now use dog carts.
single and in tandem, ut their country
places, but never bring them to New
York. Another vehicle which has sud
denly fallen into great favor in the
where there are fashionable
city people is the buckboard-not the
rusty old-time vehicle exactly, but
very much like it. Come
his way and I'll show you some of
hem"
After walking through almost a solid
block of magniticently finished car
.iages in the great warehouse, and
going up two stories in the elevator to
where a battalion of smaller carriages
stood. the reporter saw lot of buck
boards that would make the eyes OF |
,rimeval backwoodsmen start from
heir heads if they could see them.
Many of them were in white wood, with
silver finishings and gay awnings. The
wheels were polished and big. and they
we're made for two, four, and six
persons. There were two single buck
boards with an odd rumble for the
room over the rear axle. One very
finished blackboard had
he box seat raised nigh in the air.
The pole was heavy and the gear ar
angcd for four-n-hand. The high
eat was necessary for the driver to
ee over his horses. 1t was q curious
md far from attractive-looking vehicle,
tut it showed how fashion may be
'verdone.
1.-The blackboard is very popular in
he mountains" continued the manu-
acturer. land we ship a good many to
he seaside, too. The style does not
IMPRESS me very favorably, for my
eet always 20 to sleep when l ride in
blackboard"
'What is the favorite vehicle among
nen in town this year?"
"Among the leaders it is unquestion.
bly, the mail cart. or carriage, although
he T cart still has its admirers. The
nail cart is very heavy and substantial
n build. with four wheels, one seat.
nth fold-in seat behind, and a hood.
r cover. that is never raised. 1t should
&c driven to heavy horses with plenty
f action. Pole chains are usually in
rider with mail chariot. They make
lot of noise, but a man who drives a
outfit is not afraid to be