Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-20

he can satisfactorily demonstrate his ability
to handle tandem or four-in-hand. This
means hours of hard practice, wrenched
back, sore hands and disordered nervous
system. 1t means all sorts of discourage
ment, and when an ambitious tandem
driver is seen endeavoring to straighten
out his tangled reins, he is deserving of the
deepest sympathy. Amy morning in the
park YOU may see a number of young gen.
tlemen being taught to drive four by that
master whip, Herbert W. Smith.
"How did you learn to driver" was the
question put to Mr.. Porter.
81 learned to drive from George Ashen-
den, whom believe to be the greatest whip
in New York City, and the father Of four-in-
hand driving in America-" :"
"whom do you consider the best whip in
Pittsburg, Mr.. Porter?.'
"T believe Herbert w. Smith to be the
best four-in-hand driver in the city. He
has perfec: hands and thorough use of the
whip, and a most dashful aud graceful style
of driving. You could not obtain better
idea of the correct position and use of the
hands in driving than from this sketch.
When you pick up your reins do so just to
feel each horses mouth. Your hands
should be just about midway between
your left knee and waist, your left elbow
crooked at right angle, the grip once
taken on the reins, never should be short
ened or lengthened-the whip hand to be
held exactly parallel with the rein hand,
but, of course, free from it, and both elbows
should be close to the sides without press
ure.
Features Of the Proper Position.
'Tn turning corners the hands should
never be crossed. that is, you should not
reach over with the right hand to grasp the
near side rein. Nothing is in worse form
and so completely indicates the greenhorn
as to see coachman rounding"a corner saw
ing with both hands and it is still worse to
see him pulling up his team with both
hands. OF course, the moment the turn is
made the points are let 90, and then the
hand holds the reins as in the manner when
first picked up"
"How about the use of the whip, Mr..
Porter?"
s'The handling of the whip is the most
difficult and important branch in all the
studies of driving. How many of our
Pittsburg coach teams are ruined because
the coachman does not understand how to
use his whip. There are no rules to lay
down for the handling of this useful ad-
junct to driving 1t is an art given to some
coachmen and withheld to Others Simon
Williamson, Mr.. NJ X. Moorehead's coach
man, possesses this accomplishment to a
high degree"
'Does it require strength to drive four
In-hand?"
'Not necessarily, but with a baulky
horse in the wheel and puller on the of
side, strength is very good thing to have.
Of course, no good coachman will ever drive
puller il he can help 1t.
Very Important Item.
"Another very important in q coach
mans education," continued Mr.. Porter,
"is to be Judge Of pace. Horses are being
constantly ruined by being driven too hard
over our hard rough streets. A coach
should move at steady even gait. The
coach horse is expected to go at a speed at
which be travels with the greatest comfort,
and the least exertion to himself Knowl-
edge of coupling and biting is another re-
quirement, which seems to be among the
lost arts to our Pittsburg coachmen, and no
coachman ever should think OF getting onto
his box without first taking a keen glance
over the team and horses. Michael Divine,
Mr. H. j. Porter's coachman, has most
graceful position on the box, and with his
clean cut and smoothly sbaven features, his
appearance is indeed regulation"
"What is the future OF coaching in Pitts
burg?"
at has a great future before it, and our
society people are not satisfied with a
coachman they formerly employed, and
see-sawing, two-handed driver viii soon be
Q thing of the past. The interest now taken
by our society people in the i'm