The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1910-12-23

state coach was built In 1761-62 Queen
Anne coach was broken up. This new
coach was very magnificent: In fact
Is. for the body Ia the same rs that oj
Edward Wis state coach.
The cost appears to have been sir
thousand four hundred and ninety-ona
pounds one shilling and ninepence half.
penny. 1t may be presumed that tho
larger sum was obtained by the addt
ton Of payment to Sir william Cham,
bers. who designed the coach and su
perintended It's building.
The state coach was used by George
w., William Nv. and Queen Victoria,
The hammer-cloth OF scarlet velvet
with gold badges. ropes and badges
was renewed In 1888 nj cost OF Ave
hundred pounds. When the coach was
remodeled for the coronation OF King
Edward VII. the hammer.cloth was dis
pensed with and the coaohman was moi
needed. The coach was drawn by the
eight cream-colored horses with -four
postillions.
Between the years 1880 and 1925
great improvements were made 10
coach building. The chariots Of tho
early part OF the nineteenth century,
which gave life aud color to the streets
OF London before the revolution In
coach building caused by Lord Brough.
ans introduction Of the carriage
known by his name, are well repre-
scented In this collection: but perhaps
the most interesting pictures are those
of the different forms Of travelling car.
riages. In the days before railways the
comfort of the travelling carriage was
Of vital Importance. and many travel
ers were ready with devices to add to
their own convenience. Plenty OF
room was required for long journeys.
particularly when men like Napoleon
wished to carry about with them a
handy library. Most OF the old travel
ting carriages have rumbles with hoods
and possess survivals OF once useful
receptacles for swords and other light
luggage which have been turned Into
ornaments without use. The hammer.
cloths also serve to mark survival
of box under the coachman's seat
which contained the hammers and
other tools he required when accidents
occurred on the road. This rough box
needed to be hidden by covering.
meredith. The greatest Improvement
OF all was the use Of springs. which
superseded the old straps that them.
selves were an improvement Of the
seventeenth century.
The present lord mayors state coach
was built In 1867 by subscription Of
sixty pounds from each Of the junior
aldermen. or such as had not passed
tho chair. Subsequently each alder.
man. when sworn Into ONCE. contrib.
uted sixty pounds. and each lord may.
or one hundred pounds. for keeping
the coach In repair: but In course Of
time the charge was transferred TO the
corporation, and the committee Of gen
eral purposes.
The European state coaches have
been built on q somewhat similar de
sign. and the form OF most OF them
while handsome. IL generally cum
brous. One OF the earliest of these
coaches Is that Of Portugal. which was
constructed for King John w.. who
reigned from 1706 to 1850. The next
In order OF date Is the gala carriage oil
Catherine H.. empress OF Russia. which
Is open, with sort OF hood. A more
modern design Is that Of the state car
rage built In Paris by Dabingen In
1895 for the coronation OF Charles X.
and remodeled and entirely redecora
ted for the baptism Of the prince i'm
perial In 1855. II Is reputed TO be the
most costly carriage ever built. a,
over forty thousand pounds Is said to
have been spent upon II. The latest
design for state coach Ia that OF the
present queen OF Holland, which wa,
presented to her by the people OF Am
sterdam In 1898.
| n. q. WHEATlEY.