The Florida star., 1901-04-12
COACHING SEASON N HEH YORK.
Delights OF TooiinE Through Central Pars
and the Metropolis Environs.

season has begun In the metropolis. the
famous Good Times coach having inst
made its initial run from the Waldorf
Astoria to Inwood and back. In few
days the coach Pioneer will begin its
daily trips from the Holland House to
the Ardsley casino at Dobbs Ferry, and
early In May will occur the annual pa
rade OF the New York Coaching club.
which Is the fashionable event In the
coaching circles OF metropolitan upper
tendon. While the growing popularity
or the automobile has lessened In some
degree. the interest In coaching. tire
four-in-hand. with Its expert whip. lis
hveried guard and its outriders, still
has hosts OF ardent devotees, and there
is little danger OF this form OF diver
sion being abandoned by the people
who can AFFORD to indulge In les de-
lights.
l hardly. think there Is a pastime
known that gives such exhilaration as
coaching. In the nrst place. to be on
speaking acquaintance with second sto-
ry windows and green boughs and to
be able TO drink in drafts OF sunshine
from such an altitude possess a fascI-
nation 10 which no words can quite do
justice. For a little while all cares
and speculatlOns drop from ones soul
II Is sufficient TO be out In the morning.
high up In the blue air. and to roll on
and on and on.
IL was merry party that climbed
the small iron ladder to the top or the
coach. II party made up OF many sorts
OF men and women - the young mil
llOnaire who handled the whip. the
genial hust who spends his days In the
pursuit or happiness. the poet. the bro
ker. the editor And the women?
Two young and pretty chaperOns who
could not inspire awe In the heart OF a
baby. two beauties the society belle.
the scribbler. the artist. Truly mixed
and cosmopolitan party. but all agreed
on one important fact-that the day
was heavenly and the top OF the coach
the most desirable place In the whole
world
Sharp at II the coach started from
the hotel A crowd had collected TO
witness It's departure. The millionaire
whip climbed 10 the box seat, one or
the chaperOns beside him. Woe TO the
late comers! II they were not there OH
time. they would be left behind. for
nothing can delay the start. IL is one
OF the ethics or coaching 10 leave on
the moment and return TO the starting
place with the same promptltude. The
whip takes out a public license and
runs the coach on schedule time. On
the foot rest below his seat small
clock is imbedded and beside this a
steel tablet bearing the names OF the
various haltlng places and the time
each OF these points should be gained
Two minutes are allowed for chang
ing horses at three places along the
road. one minute at another place to
stand up and take in the view. etc.. so
that promptly on time the coach draws
up at It's destination.
IL was with a gay footing OF the horn
pressed 10 the lips OF liveried guard
that we fooled up Fifth avenue-there
was triumph In the gay notes and the
early morning brightness - past the
clubs where late breakfasters peered
out at u.s. past silent churches. past
troops OF nursemaids with their
wealthy little charges beside them,
past two and threes or business men
on the their way down TO Wall street,
vet indulging in a constitutional part
of the way; past the mansions OF our
multimiIlionaires. I'm and out the maze
OF carriages aud Omnibuses threading
their way over the rocky pavement
that Is one OF the drawbacks OF New
York streets. until at last We reached
the smooth macadam OF Central park
The soft. padding movement or the
wheels after the rumble or the cooole-
stones was resIful We could hear
each other speak. Now TOO green
boughs brushed our cheeks and imper'
lied the wings on the women's hats.
Central park on foot or in a carriage
IS pleasant enough. for II Is one OF tue
loyeIIest spots that ever relieved the
duIlness OF a big city, but from the top
of a coach IL presented a vista or va
ried beauty 10 make one a devotee fol
ever. Before us were dimpling lakes
showing the contrasting whiteness OF
swans upon the deep blue waters; the
Iri.lsras fhtA FnnTS Ol