The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-12-29
GOING ON WHEELS.
From the Ancient Chariot to the
Modern MotOrCar.
EVOLUTION OF THE VEHICLE.
The Crude Carts Used In the Early
Ages by the Romans Were Followed
by Carriages-Then Came Covered
Coaches With Doors and Windows.

Coaches With Doors and WINDOWS
From the forked limb Of tree to
the automobile has the evolution OF
The vehicle expanded. For hundreds
If years the chariot relgned supreme.
and, bearing a fair resemblance to II
even i'm this day, crude forms Of carts
on two wheels are to be seen In India.
China, CeylOn, Mexico and other coun-
tries. In China centuries ago the mon
Ocycle was in great favor. This odd
vehicle, much like the modern wheel
barrow, Is still in general use I'm many
parts Of the country and is propelled
by man power.
Among the two wheeled vehicles in
popular use i'm the Asiatic world may
pe mentioned the "ekka," largely used
in northern India, and the famed jim
rikiSha Of Japan. The Romans first
established the use Of carriages as
private means Of conveyance, and with
them these vehicles attained great
variety of form as well as Of orna-
mentation.
In all ages the employment of wheel
ed vehicles has depended largely upon
the condition OF the roads on which
they were to he used, and the building
of great highways, such as the Appian
way by Claudus i'm 313 B. c., as well
as macy others, greatly facilitated the
development Of carriage travelling
among the Romans. In Rome as well
as I'm other large cities OF the empire
il became necessary to restrict travel
I'm carriages to n few persons of high
rank owing to the narrowness and
crowded condition Of the streets. For
the same reason the transport of goods
along the streets was forbidden be
tween sunrise and sunset. For long
Journeys and to convey parties the
"reda" and "carruca' appear to have
been mostly used.
During the empire the carriage which
appears in pictorial representations OF
public ceremOnials Is the "carpentum."
1t Is very light, with two wheels, some
times covered and generally drawn by
two horses. If a carriage was drawn
by four horses they were yOked abreast
among the Greeks and Romans, not In
pairs, as now. From the Roman car
ruca" are traced the modern English
name carriage" the French car
rosse" and the Italian "carrozza."
The "sirpea" was very ancient form
OF vehicle, the body of which was Of
osier basketwork. 1t originated with
the Gauls, by whom 1t was named
"benna," and was employed by them
for the conveyance Of persons and
goods I'm times of peace and baggage
and supplies in time Of war.
On the introduction of the fcudal sys-
tenn throughout Europe the use of car
riages was for some time prohibited as
tending to render the vassals less fit
for military service. Men Of all grades
and professions rode on horses or mules.
travelling, and hence the members OF
the council, who at the diet and on
other occasions were employed as am
bassadors, were called 'rittmeister."
In this manner also great lords made
their public entry into cities.
Covered carriages were known in the
beginning OF the fifteenth century, but
their use was confined to ladies of the
first rank and 1t was accounted a re-
proach for men to ride In them. For
long time they were forbidden even
to women, hut by the end Of the fif-
teenth century they were being en-
ployed by kings and princes In long
journeys and later on state occasions.
The first time that amba ssadors ap-
peared In coaches on u public official
occasion was at the imperial commits
sion held at Erfurt in 1913. Soon after
this coaches became common all over
Germany, Notwithstanding various or
ders and admonitions to deter vassals
from using them.
Carriages seem to have been used tc
some extent Mt quite an early period In
France. for there is still extant an
ordinance OF Philip the Fair, issued In
1904, by which citizens wives are pro-
hibited from using them. 1t appears.
however. that about 1850 there were
only three carriages I'm Paris-one be-
longing to the queen. another to Diana
Of Poltiers and the third to Rene de
Laval, very fat nobleman who WAS
lnable to ride on horseback.
The first coach In England was
made In 1886 for the Earl of Rutland
by Walter Rippon, who also made a
coach In 1856 for Queen Mary and In
1864 n state coach for Queen Elizabeth.
BY the beginning Of the seventeenth
century the use Of carriages and
coaches had become so prevalent In
England that I'm 1901 the attention OF
parliament was drawn to the subject,
and a bill Ito restrain the excessive
use OF coaches" was introduced, which.
however. was rejected.
In regard to carriage construction. II
would seem that glass windows or
hinged and completed doors were un-
known prior to 1850. Public carriages
for hire. or hackney coaches. were In
troduced into London in 1925 and rap
Idly grew I'm popularity. Notwithstand-
Ing the opposition Of the king and
court. who thought they would ruin
the roads. they grew to number over
500 by 1850. In Paris they were In
troduced during the minority Of Louis
H.