The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-10-02
STYLES OF VEHICLES.
Gaudy Wagons, Gay Dog-Carts, PRETTY
Mail-Carts and Rich Buck-Boards,

iGaudy Wagons, Gay Dog-Carts, PRETTY
Mail-Carts and Rich Buck-Boards.
''The taste of men of fashion, said
the head of a famous carriage firm,
''runs in favor of heavy vehicles.
Years ago we lay awake nights devising
methods of decreasing the weight Of
the stylish wagon for gentlemans 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 as 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 a
modification of the English dog cart
came in. Within year there was a
veritable craze for dog carts. Several
we're imported from London, and they
fixed the taste for heavy equipages
among the millionaires' sons of New
York. The dog cart was originally
-tfseator 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 were of great size,
to roll over inequalities in the country
roads, and it was used as hack vehicle,
on which half 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 a big dog
cart invariably left him with a lame
neck, so tiresome was the bobbing back
and forth. The dog cart is, however, not
now as 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 bit lighter and more elegant
than the carts.
"Tandem driving came in and went
out with the dog cart craze. 1 know
of only three tandems in all New Y DIRK
now, and they are not driven by &C,
knowledged leaders, but by mon
anxious to get position in the world OF
fashion. A very great many of oul
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 sud
denly fallen into great favor in the
country where there are fashionable
city people is the buckboard-not the
rusty old-time vehicle exactly, bu
something very much like it. Come
this way and I'll show you some Of
| them"
After walking through almost sole
| block of magniticently finished car
riages in the great warehouse, anC
going up two stories in the elevator tc
where battalion of smaller carriage.
stood, the reporter saw lot of buck
boards that would make the eyes o
primeval backwoodsmen start from
their heads if they could see them
Many of them were in white wood, witt
silver finishings and gay awnings. The
wheels were polished and big, and they
were made for two, four, and six
persons. There were two single buck
boards with an odd rumble for the
groom over the rear axle. One very
handsomely finished blackboard haC
the box seat raised high in the air
The pole was heavy and the gear ar
ranged for four-in-hand. The high
seat was necessary for the driver tt
see over his horses. 1t was curiou!
and far from misunderstanding vehicle,
but it showed how a fashion may b.
overdone.
THE blackboard is very popular il
the mountains" continued the manu-
facturer, "and we ship good many tt
the seaside, too. The style does no
impress me very favorably, for m,
feet always 90 to sleep when l ride il
blackboard. "
"What is the favorite vehicle anon!
men in town this year?"
among the leaders it is unGuestion
ably the mail cart, or carriage, although
the 7 cart still has its admirers. Th'
mail cart is very heavy and substantial
in build, with four wheels, one seat
with fold-in seat behind, and hood
orcover, that is never raised. 1t SHOULD
be driven to heavy horses with plent.
of action. Pole chains are usually il
order with mail chariot. They make
lot of noise, but man who drives
well-appointed outfit is not afraid to b
seen.-N Y. Sun.