Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-06-23

buckles. Indeed, if you don't take
them off yourself at the start, the
livery stable thief will soon do IL lor
you. Use collar and names, instead u
the ordinary breastplate. The collar
should be fitted to the horse by an eA-
pert, every care being taken that II
does not pinch or bear in the wrong
places. The checkrein should be OF the
old-fashioned .doubIe-rein' style ana
thoroughly loose, permitting full play
for the head and shoulders. Use linen
pads for the collar, saddle and crupper.
Have nothing to do with the ordinary
woollen pads sold at the harness shops.
These pads are too heatns. In Snort
the harness should be made as COM
Portable and easy as 1t possibly can be,
otherwise, gals, chafings and sores
come on ere you are scarcely well
started on your trip.
We now come to the conveyance. All
the Ughtness that can be made con-
sistent with comfort is the guide to fol-
low. Above all things, don't make a
resolution to ride in some stunnlngly
stylish affair. l remember meeting a
Young couple, one morning. 1t was in
eastern Ohio. They had just been mar
ried and We're going to spend the
honeymoon. as they told us. In car
rage tour. l looked at the two-wheeled
gig in which they sat. noted its stff,
uncomfortable back and as | watched
them bump down the road l concluded
that their tour" might last possibly
as far as the next county. OF course,
the kind of vehicle will have to depend
fundamentally upon how many are to
undertake the tour together and
whether camping OUT is to be a
feature. If four or more be of the
party and they wish to camp, the can
vas-covered. light spring wagon will be
the thing. In general, it may be taken
for granted that the plan will be to
stop over night at hotels and farm
houses Camping out" in the varied
climate of the road is apt to prove too
rigorous for women or those not Of the
most robust constitution. If four are
to embark, select the lightest of two
seated carriages. but if two are to go.
they can take advantage of the easiest
riding and most pleasurable convey
ance of all-the phaeton. 1t is so CON
venient to get in and out of and the
high back to the seat is an indis
pensable support and comfort in the
many, many long miles.
Luggage. All, here is the chance 70,
mankind to exhibit the strategy and
Judgment Of the general. Heap to-
gether all that you think you must
take. then cut it down. and keep cut
ting. Every pound you can do without
means less weight for the horse and
less nuisance to yourself. water
proof. an extra wrap and set of under
wear. That should be the principal for
clothing. There must be a small kit of
tools to call upon in case of accident
to harness. horse or conveyance. y
wrench with which to tighten loose
bolt taps" n roll of fine copper wire, a
small hammer awl. ''WaXed end and
harness needles. There must be the
water pail for the horse. since they do
not have nice stone troughs every
where. and often you will have to scud
down to a brook. Also. you will occa-
sionally stop at a livery stable where
you wouldn't allow your animal to
drink from the common stable tub.
You are now ready for the actual
start and therefore permit us to pre-
sent some observations applicable to
fare on the road
Unless the horse and yourself are
thoroughly used to driving: that is,
you are accustomed to good stiff rides,
50 that sitting in the carriage does not
easily tire you. and the horse is thor
oughly hardened, it is wise not plan on
going more than fifteen miles or so
each day, during the first week. You
will have to work into the tour gradu-
ally.
As stopping places. you will find in gen.
erIl that the farmhouses afford the better
satisfaction. II will not do to drive along
until nearly dusk and trust sublimely to
iinding accommodations at the first
houses at which you apply. If you have
put off your bed hunting until nightfall
you may have to patiently poke along in
quiring AT a number OF farms before you
finally secure lodgings. Even then you
may have to get quarters for your horse
1t a neighboring house . quarter-mile
distant from the establishment where
You may come into village and. to
your establishment, lind that there is no
regular hotel or tavern in the place. and
YOU will have an interesting lit Of inquir-
ing and hunting around before yun are
ensconced for the evening. At farm
houses you are most likely to obtain
good. clean beds, ana wholesome food
dark to find lodgings trial at six. seven
or eight farm dwellings, is reasonably
certain to bring accommodations at some
one of the number. If you should have
i'll luck at all, you have a little time for
plodding on to the village where there
Is 4 tavern.
1t will be found. if the tourist is adroit
enough to take advantage of the fact,
that a dollar-a day rate prevails at the
country taverns ana boarding houses;
that is. % cents each for meals and the
same for lodging. The expense for the
horse will he about the same as that for
yourself. namely. Is cents a feed and
the same for stabling. We are speaking,
it is understood, as nearly as we can. OF
~ you will have to pay at the rate of 50
cents a meal for either yourself or the
horse.
1t is hoped that none who may read
this will be inclined to take to the road
with the impression that being city bred
ana assuming smartness Of attire or man
ner will count for anything in general
man is wonderfully shrewd in getting at
your true worth, and is not slow to take
swift advantage of the flaws in your
gilded armor. Therefore do not drive
your wearied foOt-sorc animal up to the
door of the village livery stable, idly toss
the reins over his back and pompously
enioin the flock of freckled boys lettering
quadruped, and in the morning | will re
pay with honorable compensation" No,
If YOU have mercy for the dumb beast
get out and look over the stalls. Find If
the barn is free from disease. Try to get
the use of a box stall If you can. If
not be sure that the open stall Is wide
enough for your horse to lie down, for
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