New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-17

CARRIAGE AND HOW TO NANAGE
THE OUTING.
Oae OF the pleasantes: ways n which TO spend
few weeks OF summer vacation Is In taxing
driving trip through a beautiful country, and any
one who has enjoyed such an experience u
sure to want to repeat K:
The first necessity In undertaking tour o. this
sort. is a pair OF strong, willing horses, well
matched IN speed and disposition; the second
driver who thoroughly understands the manage
ment and OF horses, including their treatment
in the stable and Their shoe.ng. Driving team FOR
three four wecA3 over all sorts OF roads, In
country where veterinary surgeon IS often un-
Obta.nabe, and where even a knowledge OF proper
grooming is in its infancy and bringing the horses
home sound ard in good condition is feat that
requires much skill Such driving is very dlr-
ferert matter 10 taking the family horses out on
shopping tours in the morning and for little drives
in the park in the afternoon; and the fat, shining
family horses themselves Will need special treat
mcnt before starting out on such long trip.
Suppose you have your team OF sound. strong
horses who can easily go twenty miles a day on
ordinary country roads for six days In the week
The first thing TO do is 10 get them accustomed TO
going that distance before starting on your trip.
Begin about a fortnight before the Journey COM
mences, and drive your horses twice day. morn
ing and afternoon FOR about two hours each tine:
and II they are soft out OF condition, exercise
them gently at first until gradually you get them
20 going the gait you expect them TO keep when
travelling Meantime. Of course. their allowance
OF oats must be increased until they are able to
do their full days work and they must have the
best OF care.
Now that your horses are In shape you begin to
look Tor your carriage The best thing for the pur-
pose is what is called in some places mountain
wagon" carriage with box body, all open under
the seats. with strong running gear ard stout springs
II you prefer covered carriage this wagon may have
,fa on ar yyin
II your horses extra strong your wagon may
be n tnree-seated ore which will hold a party OF
six Then for travelling necessities you snould
take for the horses watering pal ard sponge
with which TO wash their mouths. The PAL with
the sponge IN It can be hung under the wagon.
Then there must be two halters. two sheets ana
two blankets which can be rolled together tightly
and put under one OF the seats 1t is also wise to
carry box OF appropriate size containing
wrench. a punch. OF axle grease. some extra
bolts and nuts. and straps and strings TO use IN
Gaze OF accident. II should also contain sponSes
and cloths for washing and grooming the horses
and cleaning the carriage. as these things are
Sc dom found in country barns
The travellers themselves viii have 10 go IN
light marching order as 10 clothes. unless they
arrange 70 send a trunk or two by express to meet
them at different points on their journey. For the
men Clothes of light weight Of scme neutral
shade OF brown or gray. flannel shirts and soft
felt hats are the most comfortable and service
able For the ladies skirts OF wiry serge. or some
other dust-shcdding material and waists OF either
wash material or dark coored summer six. Ther
hats should shade their eyes and have simple
trimming which can be easily brushed clean. Each
person needs an extra coat or wrap and mackin-
tosh; and II the carriage has no cover. some large
pieces OF rubber cloth should be taken TO serve as
laprobes In case OF a sudden shower some SIKH
is required in packing ones necessares for a trip
like this, as bags and vases mus; be small enough
to 90 under the seats; but with little practice
the poores; packer soon learns 10 make many
things go into small compass.
The writer has driven through New-York State
and contiguous parts OF New-Jersey. Pennsylvania,
Connecticut and Massachusetts. and can heartily
recommend this part OF the country Tor driving
trips The roads. an average. are good IN
some places being sandy and stony In others
hard and firm The scenery is beautiful, the valley
Of the Susquehanna ard the rich farming country
OF Middle New-York comparing favoraby, as 10
beauty. yvlth the famous Berkshire Hills. The
hotels in the various it;e villages arc surprisingly
good the majority OF them being clean and well
kept. with plain. but nicely cooked food To be
sure the beds are sometimes hard. but any one
who has driven from four to six hours day Tor
several weeks becomes strong and well that
plain pine board would suggest downy softness and
refreshing sleep
In arranging the trip. county maps end the road
books printed for bicyc'ers great help; but
even where these are unobjanab,e Il Is diff
icult find the road you want or 10 ascertain tho
best hotel TO stop at in the next village by asking
for information as you go. IL Is great con-
venience to have in your party a man % business
ability and firm character. who will make all the
bargains at the hotels. and ask questions every
possible occasion. and all the better IL this Is
some besidSs the driver that the latter
left free 10 that his horses properly cared
for. \ party OF six nearly always get reduc-
lions In price on account OF their number, and
should be able TO trave. very comfortably on g
day each. which would include care and feed Of
horses In some places II would less than this.
AID IN others more-especially where summer
boarders have taken UP their abode-but the price
should not average more than s. day. ~,
have to take two drives one IN the morning and
ore In the afternoon: and the earlier you can start
horses rest at midday. the better for them, Per-
haps hot day. Il the road Is very billy or
twenty mites; but some other day when they md
a good hard level road they Will more than MAKE
ny the distance lost 80 that you stlll average your
twenty miles day.
II YOU are interested in human nature, one OF
the greatest pleasures OF driving trip is IN meet
ing the quaint characters one comes across In such
travels. Few ely people know now much naturai
can farmers who 1--we tar from railroads and know
:it;e or nothing OF books Often: II you stop at
place Will enter into conversation with you. and
nod 10 YOU In friendly fashion, and would be con-
he failed to do Sometimes your roadside ac-
quaintance asks very funny questions: but no
never intends 10 be rude and Tor months after
were driving through the country. actually for
plough and the hay wagon ard an OCCASIONAL trip
10 the village TO do his trading; he would never
cars. But We who have tried IT, know that there
is no pleasanter way OF travelling than driving.
me scULPrORs ESTIMATE OF HIMSELE